Archive of Our Own

Izuku woke up 30 minutes before his 6 o'clock alarm, staring at himself in the bathroom mirror. His fingers traced the scar on his face, the injury fully healed but still unfamiliar. It was hard to ignore—more noticeable than the other scars scattered across his body. Though he wouldn't say he felt self-conscious about it, the scar was definitely something he was still getting used to.

Scars are proof of life after all. 

He was just thankful that his hair had grown back quickly, a gift from his mom's genetics.

Switching off the bathroom light, Izuku moved to his closet, searching for comfortable jogging clothes. He'd gotten back into the habit of morning runs before school, trying to establish a sense of normalcy after the war. The routine helped him clear his mind, especially now that he had to face life with the remnants of his quirk.

He knew All Might had managed to keep the embers of One For All burning for about a year, but his journey had ended with the final battle against All For One. Izuku just hoped the embers would last a little longer for him.

For now, he was restricted from using his quirk in training, a precaution he understood and agreed with. Instead, he focused on improving his close combat skills. Bakugo was in a similar situation, his quirk off-limits as he underwent physical therapy for his injured arm. Unlike Izuku, Bakugo was eager to use his quirk again, but he knew better than to push it and reluctantly complied with the restrictions.

Izuku stepped out of the dormitories at precisely 5:47 AM, ready for his morning run. The campus offered several paths for the students, but he always chose the same one. He loved how the trees arched overhead, their leaves filtering the first rays of the morning sun.

With one earbud in, music played softly as he ran. He wore a long-sleeved compression shirt, gym shorts, and red compression sleeves on both knees. The cool morning breeze brushed through his hair, and he couldn’t help but feel how much he had missed these runs.

As he settled into his pace, he heard footsteps in the distance. At first, they didn’t register, but as they grew louder and more familiar, his heart skipped a beat.

Kacchan.

Of course, he knew who it was before he even turned around. Katsuki’s footsteps were unmistakable.

Before Izuku could acknowledge him, Katsuki was already beside him, matching his pace effortlessly.

“Couldn’t wait for me?” Katsuki teased, his voice gruff yet light.

“Ah! Good morning, Kacchan!” Izuku replied, startled but smiling. “sorry I woke up earlier than usual. I didn’t think you’d appreciate me waking you up…”

Katsuki raised an eyebrow, a small chuckle escaping him before he turned his attention back to the path ahead. The soft morning sunlight played across his fair skin.

“I didn’t say to wake me up, nerd,” Katsuki muttered. “I said to wait.”

Guilt washed over Izuku as he realized how thoughtless it was to leave without him. They usually ran together.

“Right… sorry, Kacchan.”

“Stop apologizing.”

“Okay.”

They ran in silence for a while, but it was a comfortable one. It wasn’t often they ran side by side like this—usually, one was chasing the other. But today, they stayed together, and though neither would admit it, they both liked it. Stubborn as they were, that was as close to an unspoken agreement as they could get.

Izuku opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it with a soft pop, the words dying on his tongue.

Of course, Katsuki noticed.

“Spit it out.”

“I was going to ask if you’d help me with the English homework from yesterday. I don’t want to be stuck with it over the weekend.”

Katsuki shot a sidelong glance at Izuku, who did the same. His gaze drifted to the scar marring Izuku’s face, where freckles once dotted his skin. With a roll of his eyes, Katsuki looked ahead again.

“Why not ask Icy Hot? He’s got perfect marks in English.”

“Well, yeah, but so do you, Kacchan.”

“Pfft, whatever, nerd…”

“So… is that a yes?”

“Yeah.”

And just like that, they fell into silence for the rest of their run.

As Cementoss lectured about the characteristics of modern literature, Izuku found his mind drifting back to the morning's run with Katsuki, recalling the many runs they had shared before. He couldn't help but think about how much their relationship had evolved—and how much Katsuki himself had changed.

Izuku, ever the observer, was always analyzing people's quirks and fighting styles from a distance. This constant scrutiny made him surprisingly adept at reading people, especially Kacchan. It might have been their long history as childhood friends, but there was an unspoken understanding between them that had always been there, even during their most tumultuous times

Lately, Izuku had noticed a subtle shift. Katsuki was always near—not physically close, but somehow always aware of Izuku, watching over him without a word. Of course, Izuku noticed. It was what they did best, picking up on each other's signals without ever acknowledging them.

But Izuku couldn't deny that he was doing the same, always aware, always watching out for Katsuki in his own way.

He's always done that, but it felt different after the war.

Izuku survived something far worse than a memory—he saw Katsuki dead. It shattered him, shook him to his core.

Sometimes, you can’t save people; you can only love them. And that’s exactly what Izuku did. He loved Kacchan.

Sure, they had their arguments, but arguments can lead to conversations. They weren’t all bad, especially when they helped understand each other's feelings.

Those arguments and conversations helped Izuku understand his own emotions. But he's stubborn and tucked those feelings away, locking them deep in his mind. He assumed—no, he knew—that Katsuki didn’t feel the same. So instead of risking what they had, Izuku chose to stay silent.

“Hey, Deku, are you gonna come to lunch with us?” A bubbly voice interrupted Izuku's thoughts.

He glanced around the classroom, realizing half the class had already packed up and left for lunch.

Standing beside his desk were Iida, Uraraka, and Todoroki, but they noticed the distant look on his face.

A warm hand pressed gently on Izuku's shoulder, snapping him out of whatever trance his mind had him in.

“Midoriya, are you okay?” Todoroki asked in his usual stoic, yet concerned tone.

“Oh, yeah, of course! I must have just spaced out,” Izuku replied awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, a smile still lingering on his face.

The four teenagers sat at their usual table in the cafeteria, with Momo and Tsuyu joining them.

“So, Midoriya, how’s the close combat training going? I heard you’re mostly training with Bakugo. How’s that working out?” Tsuyu asked, her eyes curious.

Izuku paused, finishing his bite before setting down his spoon. “Pretty well, actually. But he gets frustrated when I don’t use my full physical strength against him…” His voice trailed off as he looked down at his lap. “I’m just worried that if I push too hard, I might accidentally hurt him. I don’t want to risk his recovery.”

Tsuyu and Uraraka exchanged amused glances across the table, small but knowing smiles playing on their lips. Uraraka sighed softly, shaking her head with a lighthearted grin.

“Deku, you don’t need to worry about that anymore,” she said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “His arm is out of the sling, and he’s finally able to grip things again. I’m pretty sure he can take a punch or two now!” She pumped her fist in the air, her enthusiasm infectious.

Izuku felt a warmth spread through him, appreciating Uraraka’s unwavering support. It was clear she genuinely cared for him, and it always showed in moments like this.

His classmates has been through so much together, but they never hesitated to comfort him when he needed it most. They understood the weight of his worries, but they never coddled him—they treated him like an equal.

He smiled at Uraraka and the others at the table, all of them looking at him with pride in their eyes. “Yeah, you’re right. He’d probably knock some sense into me if he heard I was holding back!”

“Exactly! Show him no mercy!” Uraraka cheered, pumping her fist again as the group erupted into laughter, the camaraderie lifting the mood around the table.

 Lunch ended, and the rest of their classes went by smoothly. As the school day wrapped up, everyone headed back to the dorms, ready to enjoy their weekend.

However, Izuku and Katsuki had other plans. They decided to hit the training arena to sharpen their combat skills once more.

Usually, Katsuki was the first to arrive, always eager to get started. But this time, Izuku arrived first.

“Kacchan isn’t here?” he murmured to himself, a bit surprised.

Izuku pulled out his phone and sent Katsuki a text:

Izuku 

Hey, where are you?

I’m gonna head in and warm up.

True to his word, Izuku changed into his gym clothes and began stretching. He started with his legs, sitting down to lean side to side and touching his toes. He stretched his arms, hips, and every joint he could, preparing for the intense training session ahead.

Fifteen minutes later, Katsuki marched in, his face flushed with a mix of irritation and determination. Izuku barely had time to react before Katsuki grabbed him by the collar, pulling him face to face.

“I knew it, you goddamn nerd! You weren’t giving it your all! Just because of my stupid arm?!” Katsuki huffed, his voice a growl of frustration.

Izuku’s mind raced. Fuck.

“What? I have no idea what you’re talking about! I’ve been—”

“No, you haven’t!” Katsuki cut him off, glaring fiercely.

It was clear that somehow, Katsuki had found out Izuku was being cautious with his injured arm. But how? It didn’t matter. Katsuki knew now, and he wasn’t going to let it slide.

“O-okay! Fine! I’m ready to give it my all now!” Izuku stammered, bracing himself.

“You better be!” Katsuki huffed, releasing Izuku’s collar before stepping back into a fighting stance, eyes blazing with intensity.

Izuku mirrored the move, shifting into his fighting stance, his eyes locking onto Katsuki with unwavering intensity.

Without hesitation, they lunged at each other, dodging the fists they each threw. But Izuku, ever the strategist, anticipated Katsuki’s move. With his free hand, he reached for Katsuki's right shoulder, attempting to push him down and pin him.

It didn’t work on the first try, but it was worth a shot.

Izuku managed to get a firm grip, digging his fingers into Katsuki’s shoulder and throwing him off balance. However, Katsuki quickly retaliated, jabbing Izuku in the left side of his torso, forcing Izuku to release his grip.

Izuku coughed from the impact, the pain in his side making him jump back from Katsuki.

“Huh? Is that all you’ve got?” Katsuki taunted, his voice dripping with cockiness.

Izuku didn’t respond. Instead, he grinned and jumped back into action, ready to dodge whatever Katsuki had in store. He ducked under Katsuki's next attack and delivered a swift kick to his shin, causing Katsuki to stumble backward. Though Katsuki quickly regained his footing, it wasn’t fast enough. Izuku had already closed the distance, wrapping his arms around Katsuki’s waist and pinning his arms to his body as they both crashed to the ground . 

Izuku swiftly pinned Katsuki’s wrists beside his head, his legs locking Katsuki’s in place as he struggled to escape.

“Looks like you were wrong, Kacchan,” Izuku panted, gazing down at his childhood friend, now defeated beneath him.

It was just like their fight at Ground Beta, only this time, the roles were reversed.

But the look on Katsuki's face was far from what Izuku had expected. He thought he'd see irritation—eyebrows knitted together, teeth gritted in frustration. But instead, Katsuki’s eyes were filled with an emotion Izuku had never seen before.

Confusion? Hurt? Izuku couldn’t quite pin down what he was seeing in those eyes, but he was determined to find out.

“Why do you look like that?” Izuku asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

Before Katsuki could respond, Izuku's hands shot back, releasing Katsuki’s wrists.

Had he hurt him? Did he not consider Katsuki's injuries? But he was told to give it his all, right?

“Kacchan! Did I hurt you?” Izuku asked, his concern evident as his eyes widened in worry.

Katsuki remained silent, his head turned to the side, refusing to meet Izuku’s gaze. This was bad.

Despite his usual tough exterior, Katsuki wasn’t doing a great job of hiding his emotions—his face was flushed. Flustered?

“Can you get off me” Katsuki muttered, barely audible.

Izuku quickly realized he was still pinning Katsuki down, his legs locked in place. He scrambled off and kneeled beside him, trying to get into his line of sight.

“Kacchan, did I hurt you?” Izuku asked again, but in that soft concerned voice of his.

Fuck, Izuku’s so goddamn heroic, Katsuki thought.

As Izuku hovered over Katsuki, Bakugo could feel the warmth of Izuku’s breath on his face. Tiny beads of sweat rolled from Izuku’s forehead, trickling into his eyebrows. Bakugo could see every expression, every scar etched on Izuku’s face as he spoke, though the words barely registered. Katsuki was utterly whipped by what he saw before him.

Why was this green-haired nerd so… captivating?

The sight was too much to handle. Katsuki tore his gaze away from Izuku and stared at a wall off to his right, trying to steady himself.

“Can you get off me” he muttered.

Izuku shifted, the pressure around Katsuki’s legs lifting as their bodies unlocked. But just as Katsuki thought he was free, those green curls filled his vision once more.

“Kacchan, did I hurt you?”

There it was—that damned hero voice, soft and sweet, laced with concern. The voice that always seemed to ask Katsuki if Izuku had hurt him.

As if he ever could.

“No, you didn’t,” Katsuki replied, trying to keep his tone nonchalant. He sat up, his back now to Izuku, doing his best to hide his flushed face. He had to get out of there, fast. If Izuku had already caught a glimpse of his flustered expression and started to try and figure out why he was so flustered, Katsuki was doomed.

He stood up, brushing himself off as if nothing had happened.

“I’m gonna go... I’ll meet you later to help with your English homework,” he said quickly before walking out of the arena, heading back to the dorms.

Thankfully, there was no sign of Izuku as Bakugo hurried back to the dorms.

He just needed a moment to breathe, to collect himself.

He’d seen this coming. He’d kept his eyes on Izuku for too long, always aware of what he was doing, constantly watching out for him, wanting to save him even while Izuku saved everyone else. Despite the way he acted toward him, Bakugo was always worried about him.

He thought he might love him. No—he was sure of it.

Its how he feels. 

So what was he so afraid of? The war had a lot to do with it, but wasn’t it reasonable to always want to protect Izuku?

Whatever it was, Bakugo knew there was no easy fix. He’d never felt like this before, and he’d just have to deal with it.

At least he wasn’t alone. Instead of heading to his room, he made his way to Mina’s. He knew Kirishima would be there too. It was the best option for some support—support for his crazy teenage feelings.

With two heavy knocks on Mina's door, she quickly opens it, revealing a red-haired boy and a yellow-haired boy, both intensely focused on a game of Mario Kart.

"Great, Dunce Face is here too," Bakugo mutters under his breath.

"What's up, Bakugo?" Mina asks, tilting her head and flashing him a bright smile.

"Bakubro!" A scratchy voice calls out from deeper inside the room.

"Yeah, yeah, don't cream your pants. I need to ask you guys something," Bakugo grumbles as he steps inside. Mina rolls her eyes and closes the door behind him.

Bakugo drops into a high-heeled chair near the bed where the two boys continue their game, backs resting against the bed frame, cushioned by pink and black striped pillows as they sit on the floor in front of the TV.

"What do you need to ask?" Mina asks, flopping onto her pink bedspread, propping her chin up with both hands.

Mina’s room always seemed to be the hangout spot. Despite the overwhelmingly bright pink that assaulted Bakugo’s senses, there was always a fun vibe. Plus, she had a Nintendo Switch, which didn’t hurt.

"Let me guess," the yellow-haired boy speaks up with a cheeky tone, "it's about Midoriya, right?"

"Ohhh, did you finally tell him?" Mina teases, sitting up with a mischievous grin.

"Shut up, Dunce Face!" Bakugo snaps, standing up with gritted teeth before plopping back down in the high-heeled chair. "But no... I didn't tell him shit." His voice drops as he looks down at his feet. "But something weird happened when we were sparring just now..."

"What happened?" Mina asks, intrigued.

"I think... I was blushing at him?" Bakugo admits, sounding almost bewildered by the idea.

Silence fills the room, and even the Mario Kart music seems to fade as Bakugo glances up at his friends’ stunned faces, barely holding back their laughter.

"What’s so funny?" Bakugo growls, irritation creeping into his voice. That was all it took for the room to explode with giggles and snickering.

Bakugo rolls his eyes, growling under his breath. He knew it sounded ridiculous, even to him, admitting he might’ve been blushing at Izuku.

"Bakugo... have you never, you know... been flustered like that before?" Mina asks between giggles.

It was crazy to admit, but he believed it was true. Katsuki had never really blushed or anything like that. When the boys in middle school brought in magazines or talked about explicit stuff, he just couldn’t see what the big deal was. It wasn’t embarrassing to him because he didn’t really get into it. He thought maybe it was because he wasn’t that into girls. Sure, they were pretty, but he never saw himself with one as a significant other.

But it wasn’t the same with guys either. He couldn’t just look at a guy and be attracted to him instantly no matter how good he looked. Katsuki was more sentimental about relationships. It took time for him to see someone that way—he needed to know them inside and out, flaws and all, before even considering them as a significant other.

And Izuku he knew.

With Izuku, though, it was different. Yeah, Izuku was good-looking, but what made Katsuki blush was the determination mixed with pride on Izuku’s face when he beat him in their sparring match. That look had made him feel something he wasn’t used to, and maybe, just maybe, it looked really good on Izuku’s charming face...

"No," Katsuki finally answers, snapping the room back to reality as the laughter dies down.

Izuku walked back to the dorms, having cleared the arena and made sure everything was in place for the next user. But his mind was elsewhere, puzzled by Katsuki's behavior after their sparring match. He fully expected Katsuki  to critique his moves or demand a rematch, yet none of that happened. Katsuki had just walked off without a word.

Why did he leave like that? Izuku wondered. Did I injure him and he didn’t want to tell me? No, Kacchan wouldn’t lie about an injury 

And then there was that look on Katsuki’s face. In all the years Izuku had known him, he’d never seen Katsuki flustered, let alone embarrassed. Could it be that he was upset because Izuku won? No, Katsuki wasn't that sore of loser, at least not anymore. Something else was going on.

 Izuku had to admit, though, seeing that pink hue on Katsuki’s face was a little endearing. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t realize he’d reached the dorm until he was at the door. Inside, a few classmates were lounging in the common room, a random movie playing in the background as they chatted.

“Back from combat training, Midoriya?” a sharp, clear voice startled him. Izuku turned to see Iida standing beside him.

“Oh, Iida! Yes, I’m back,” he replied with a smile.

“How was it? I was a bit surprised to see Bakugo rush up to his room after coming back from the arena,” Iida asked, curiosity mixed with concern in his tone.

Izuku’s worry deepened. So, something really was on Kacchan's mind…

“I think it went fine,” Izuku said, though uncertainty lingered in his voice. “But it was odd. He didn’t ask for a rematch or anything—just left after our first match.”

Iida tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, clearly as confused as Izuku.

“That is odd…”

Izuku started to worry that he might have done something wrong. Did I upset him somehow? But he told me to give it my all, not to hold back. So what’s going on?

Noticing Izuku’s growing concern, Iida moved in front of him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Midoriya, I can see the worry on your face. I’m sure it’s nothing serious, and if it is, it’s probably not what you’re thinking.”

Izuku met Iida’s eyes, trying to absorb his reassurance. “He didn’t storm in here angry or upset, more like he had something to say.”

“Something to say?” Izuku echoed.

“Well... I don’t know how to put it, but it seemed like he had something on his mind. He had that thinking face on,” Iida explained.

“I see... So I was right, he must have something on his mind. But what?” Izuku murmured, rubbing his chin.

Iida could already predict where this was heading, as Izuku began muttering to himself.

“Hey, why don’t you head up to Todoroki’s room? I know Uraraka is up there studying with him. I’m sure they could help you figure this out,” Iida suggested, snapping Izuku out of his thoughts.

“yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Iida. It’d be nice to get some feedback instead of just muttering to myself, huh?” Izuku joked, though he knew it was true.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Iida replied with a chuckle.

Izuku waved goodbye to Iida as he stepped into the elevator, heading up to Todoroki's room. He briefly considered stopping by Katsuki's room first but decided against it. He knew that if he went there without clearing his head or getting some feedback about what happened at the arena, he'd only end up stressing about it more. He needed support to help sort through his chaotic thoughts.

When he reached Todoroki's door, Izuku knocked lightly and heard a mix of two voices shout, "Come in!" from behind the door, though one voice was noticeably quieter than the other.

As he opened the door, Izuku was greeted by the sight of Uraraka and Todoroki sitting at a chabudai, papers scattered across the low table, and two open packets of under-eye face masks.

“Oh, Deku! Didn’t expect you to come by. What’s up?” Uraraka asked, glancing at Izuku before returning her focus to applying an under-eye gel mask on Todoroki. She had her own mask under her eyes as well, with their hair pinned back by pink clips to keep it out of the way.

Realizing what was happening, Izuku couldn’t help but giggle as he closed the door behind him.

“Not too much, just wanted to ask you guys about something. But it looks like I might’ve interrupted your spa day,” Izuku joked as he sat down at the chabudai with them.

Uraraka chuckled, sitting back after finishing with Todoroki’s mask. “No interruption at all! I just had these eye masks to help with puffiness, and I thought I’d let Todoroki try them out, just for fun.”

“They do feel quite relaxing,” Todoroki added, shifting his gaze to Izuku. “The cooling sensation is nice.”

Izuku couldn’t deny that seeing Todoroki with a pink gel eye mask was amusing, especially since he’d never seen him indulge in something like this before. The sight made Izuku smile.

“What did you want to ask, Deku?” Uraraka asked, her tone curious.

Izuku’s smile faded as he looked down at his lap, recalling his recent sparring match with Katsuki. “I just came back from a sparring match with Kacchan, and... I don’t know, something seemed off about him. He didn’t ask for a rematch or give me any feedback on my moves like he usually does. He just left after our first match.”

He glanced up at his friends, who were listening intently, though their expressions were tinged with confusion.

“That doesn’t sound like Bakugo,” Todoroki remarked.

“Right? And when I took him down, he had this look on his face... I can't quite put my finger on it, but he looked flustered. It wasn’t just the usual flush from fighting—there was something more behind it, you know?”

When he looked back at his friends, he noticed them exchanging knowing glances. Uraraka wore a cheeky smile, and Todoroki had a faint grin, piquing Izuku’s curiosity even more.

With a sigh and a shake of her head, Uraraka turned to Izuku, still smiling. “Did you ever think that maybe he liked what he saw when you took him down?” she teased.

Izuku blinked, more confused than ever, not quite grasping Uraraka’s point. “your point?”

Todoroki took a sip of his drink and chimed in with a smirk, “You’re denser than I am.”

Uraraka let out a soft chuckle at Todoroki’s snarky comment before leaning closer to Izuku and giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “What I’m trying to say is that you, Izuku Midoriya, made Katsuki Bakugo blush.”

Izuku’s eyes widened in shock as those deep, hidden feelings he thought he had buried suddenly resurfaced, his face turning a deep shade of red.

“What?!” Izuku squeaked, his voice rising in pitch. “Why?!”

Both Uraraka and Todoroki sighed, shaking their heads as they prepared to explain.

“Whenever he gets that determined look on his face, it does something to me! And during our sparring match, I was lucky enough to see it up close!” Katsuki raged, flopping face-first onto Mina’s bed.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, Bakugo,” Mina replied, placing a firm but reassuring hand on Katsuki’s back.

She glanced over at the two boys sitting in front of her TV, silently mouthing, “Give me a moment with him.” They understood and quickly made their way out of Mina’s room.

Mina was known for her emotional intelligence, especially when it came to understanding others. Bakugo had grown to trust her deeply, especially when it came to figuring out his complicated feelings—particularly when it came to Izuku.

Despite his usual rough exterior, Bakugo always tried to return the favor, offering comfort in his own way, even if he wasn’t fully aware of it.

“Listen to me,” Mina said seriously, drawing Katsuki’s attention as he lifted his face from the mattress.

“The reason you find those expressions of his so charming, so endearing, is because he’s imitating you. You haven’t realized that yet, have you?” She paused, watching as Katsuki absorbed her words, processing every bit of information.

“I’ve seen it myself, every time we’ve been paired up for training.”

Mina smiled softly. “Uraraka once told me something, and I think it fits the two of you perfectly: If you love someone enough, you start to become like them. And Bakugo, I see you doing the same.”

It's true. Izuku's determination and refusal to give up changed Bakugo's worldview, not just about being a hero but about himself too. Izuku was having a profound impact on Katsuki, and that's why he can't imagine a life without him.

Bakugo scoffed with a grin, shaking his head. “Yeah, that damn nerd really knows how to get under my skin.”

“You two are so wrapped around each other’s fingers, it's crazy,” Mina teased.

“Shut up!” Bakugo snarled.

“It's true!” Mina shot back.

“Seriously, you guys have such a complex relationship…” She paused, considering whether to say what was on her mind, but decided to go ahead. “That apology, the day we went to get Midoriya back... You confronted your insecurities in front of him and only him, even though the whole class was there.”

Her voice softened as she glanced at the door. “You've grown, man. That apology meant the world to Midoriya—we all saw it,” Kirishima added as he and Denki entered the room.

“It was a moment of vulnerability,” Denki chimed in. “You confronted your own flaws and took accountability. It opened up a new understanding between you two, especially for Midoriya. So telling him how you feel isn’t going to tear anything apart. You’ve both been through many emotional journeys, you can survive one more heart-to-heart.” Mina finished. 

Bakugo glanced at his friends, all giving him those soft, prideful looks. Kindness wasn’t a quality he was used to, but these people had softened him over the years, making him tender in ways he never thought possible.

“Fuck, I’ve got such good friends,” Bakugo grumbled, his voice quivering slightly.

“Deku, you've pushed Bakugo toward something greater,” Uraraka said directly. “You’ve impacted him more than you realize, probably ever since you two were kids.”

“But you didn’t notice that, did you?” Todoroki added.

Izuku was still reeling from the idea that he might have actually made Katsuki blush. But now, hearing what Uraraka said, his face shifted into an expression of confusion and curiosity. Had he really changed Bakugo?

“I… guess not? I must have been—”

“You were too busy being impacted by Bakugo himself to notice how much he was changing because of you,” Uraraka interrupted, her tone serious.

Come to think of it, Izuku realized that he had indeed grown stronger, both mentally and physically, over the years. Katsuki’s intense drive and competitive nature had pushed him to become more confident in his abilities.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed some changes in Kacchan’s behavior… I just didn’t know I was the one causing it,” Izuku admitted.

“Exactly. You two have been circling each other for so long that you don’t even realize how much you've improved, like dancers refining their skills by watching each other,” Uraraka said.

Izuku and Todoroki both tilted their heads in confusion at her words.

“It’s a metaphor or whatever,” she sighed, rolling her eyes.

“Okay, what I’m trying to say is that you two have always been so aware of each other. In doing so, you’ve built off what you’ve seen in each other. Bakugo becoming more considerate, softening his approach because of your kindness and big heart, while you’ve become more confident and assertive, influenced by his aggressive drive,” Uraraka explained, finally taking a deep breath after her long-winded explanation.

Izuku was dumbfounded. He hadn't even seen it coming—how oblivious he’d been to some of Katsuki's growth and how much he had influenced it. But now, he felt a sense of pride swell within him.

“He admires your drive and determination, Midoriya. He’s absolutely captivated by it,” Todoroki added, a small grin forming at the corner of his mouth. “That’s why he blushed at you.”

Izuku lightly blushed, now realizing that Katsuki admired his determination and his relentless pursuit of becoming a hero—or anything, really. But still, there was no closure for the feelings that had once been hidden. Did Kacchan really like him? Or just the qualities he possessed?

“But... do you think Kacchan actually... likes me? Or just the qualities that come with me?” Izuku asked, uncertainty lacing his voice.

He was met with the sound of two simultaneous smacks as both of his friends slapped their foreheads. Izuku looked up to see Uraraka and Todoroki with their palms pressed against their foreheads. Uraraka was the first to lower her hand.

“Yes, Deku! He likes you! Without a doubt!” she exclaimed, sounding slightly exasperated, which made Todoroki chuckle.

Izuku, with what looked like steam rising from his head, fell onto his back, overwhelmed. His two friends burst into laughter at his reaction.

The two boys eventually wrapped up their conversations with their friends, grateful for the unwavering support that helped calm their chaotic minds. As they left their friends’ rooms and headed back to their own, they felt satisfied with what they now understood and knew.

Meanwhile, Uraraka, still in Todoroki’s room, finishing the last of their studies, received a notification on her phone from Mina. Curious, she opened it.

Mina🩷

Just gave the best advice ever! 

Uraraka giggled at the text and began typing a response.

Ochako🫶

Yeah, me too! What a coincidence!

Mina, reading Uraraka’s reply, immediately connected the dots, her excitement growing.

Mina🩷

Wait… That wouldn’t happen to be Midoriya, right? Because if so, Bakugo might just share some of his feelings with him…

Uraraka’s eyes widened in surprise as she realized that the two boys had likely come to an understanding of their feelings for each other. A giddy sensation bubbled up in her stomach.

Ochako🫶

No way… FINALLY 

Mina🩷

ITS ABOUT TIME THEY GET THEIR SHIT STRAIGHT! 

Both girls squealed with excitement, the prospect of what they had long hoped for possibly about to unfold.

Now, they just had to wait and see what would happen when the two boys met up later in Izuku’s room—for Bakugo to help him with his English homework.

Izuku laying on his bed, scrolling through his phone, savoring the downtime after a long school day and an intense sparring match with Katsuki. The fight still lingered in his mind, but the worry that had initially gripped him had started to fade.

“Kacchan likes me?” he muttered under his breath, the thought slipping out before he could stop it.

Even though his friends had hinted that Katsuki might have feelings for him, Izuku couldn’t help but question it. It was one thing to hear it from others, but did Katsuki actually like him? Did he like him for them to hold hands, go on dates, or stroll through festivals together, sharing crepes like in one of those romantic dramas?

His phone slipped from his grasp, landing on his face with a soft thud. He sighed, placing it beside him on the bed, determined to think things through without any distractions.

Izuku knew he couldn’t just rely on what others said. He needed proof—directly from Katsuki. And, of course, Izuku, determined as ever, was going to find a way to get that answer without making things awkward.

He remembered asking Katsuki to help him with his English homework. Maybe that would be the perfect time to bring it up… But how was he supposed to approach something like this? Especially with Kacchan, who wasn’t exactly known for being that open about his personal feelings.

From what Izuku knew, Katsuki had never been in a romantic relationship or shown any interest in one. Not that Izuku doubted Katsuki could be romantic—he just knew Katsuki tended to grouch about anything too sappy.

Maybe he’d have to be direct. Just ask if Katsuki had ever had a girlfriend or a boyfriend. But then again, did Izuku even know if Kacchan liked boys? Well, if others thought Katsuki liked him, that probably meant he did… right?

These thoughts swirled around in Izuku’s mind, and before he knew it, he was pacing his room, muttering to himself with a hand on his chin.

Finally, Izuku sighed in frustration and flopped back down on his bed. He knew he needed to manage his expectations. He had kept these feelings buried for so long—he could endure keeping them hidden a little longer if it meant avoiding disappointment.

Katsuki was in his room, going through his daily exercises to strengthen his arm. He gripped a hand trainer, testing his grip strength. He could see how much his arm had regained its strength and mobility, thanks to the physical therapy he’d been diligently following.

Every week, he visited the physiotherapist, undergoing treatments like heat or cold therapy and muscle manipulation. The sessions, though grueling, worked wonders.

This week, however, he hadn’t gone. He was a little behind on his schoolwork, and as a result, his arm had been aching more than usual. But it was nothing he couldn’t handle.

It suddenly dawned on him that he was supposed to meet Izuku to help with his English homework. Not that Katsuki had his own done yet—but whatever, they could do it together.

Together.

Katsuki shook his head, pushing the thought aside, and stood up from the floor. He put away the bands and tools from his exercises and gathered his English schoolwork.

As he prepared to leave, Bakugo found himself considering whether to tell Izuku about the feelings he had begun to sort out. But he quickly decided against it. He still hadn’t figured out how Izuku would react—how Izuku would feel knowing that Katsuki, the guy who had pushed him around for years, now had sappy feelings for him.

Katsuki knew that his apology had been a significant step for both of them and their relationship, but it wouldn’t undo everything he’d done to the boy. Bakugo expected Izuku to hold some resentment, to be at least a little pissed at him. But of course, Izuku had too big a heart for that.

No matter how ugly Bakugo felt inside, Izuku still saw him as the prettiest thing in the world.

Bakugo eventually left his room, his homework papers in hand, and headed toward Izuku’s room.

With two light knocks, Bakugo heard footsteps approach. The door creaked open, revealing messy green curls and scattered freckles.

“Oh, Kacchan! I didn’t know you were coming,” Izuku said, surprised.

“Yeah, clearly. Your hair’s a mess, and why are you sitting in the dark?” Bakugo questioned, his voice gruff but softened by a hint of concern.

“uh I don’t know?” Izuku mumbled.

“Whatever. Turn on some light, you damn vampire,” Bakugo muttered as he brushed past Izuku and entered the room.

Izuku let out a soft laugh at Bakugo’s remark. He closed the door and walked over to his desk, switching on a lamp that bathed the room in a warm glow.

As the light filled the room, Katsuki took in the familiar sight of Izuku’s All Might posters still hanging on the walls. However, he noticed some of the figurines were missing. Had Izuku put them away? He decided not to ask.

“Alright, nerd, what do you need help with the English homework?”

“Yeah, mostly just the pronunciations and stuff,” Izuku replied, heading to his school bag. He rummaged through it before pulling out his English homework, the papers crumpled and far less neat than Katsuki’s.

Izuku was always like that—organized, but only about certain things. He’d often just shove things into his bag and somehow still find them later.

Katsuki sat down at Izuku’s desk while Izuku settled on his bed, using a hardcover book as a makeshift writing surface.

As they started working, Izuku noticed that Katsuki hadn’t started his homework from the previous day either. It looked like they’d be tackling it together.

“Okay, work on what you understand first. When you get stuck, just ask,” Katsuki instructed.

“But don’t ask me right away! At least try to figure it out first.”

“Okay, I’ll try first, then ask,” Izuku replied softly, already focused on his work.

The room fell into a comfortable silence as the two boys began working on their homework together.

Ten minutes later, Katsuki could hear the familiar sound of a wooden pencil tapping between Izuku’s teeth—a habit he’d had for as long as Katsuki could remember.

With a sigh, Bakugo set his pencil down and tore his gaze away from his paper to look at Izuku.

“What is it?”

“Well... the paper’s talking about possessive nouns. It wants me to turn the basic form of nouns into possessive ones by adding an apostrophe and an S, but I’m just not sure which words to do that to,” Izuku explained, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to puzzle it out.

“Let me see the sentence you’re working on,” Katsuki said, moving over to sit beside Izuku on the bed.

He glanced at the paper in Izuku’s hand, reading the sentence: “Valentine day is coming soon.”

“It would be ‘Valentine’s,’ with the apostrophe and S. The apostrophe indicates possession, showing that the day belongs to Valentine or whatever,” Katsuki explained, pointing to the word on Izuku’s paper.

“So it would be ‘Valentine’s Day?’” Izuku asked, tilting his head slightly as he tried to absorb the information.

“Yup.”

Izuku nodded and added the apostrophe and S to the word. After a moment, he looked up at Katsuki with a curious expression.

“Is Valentine’s Day coming soon?”

Huh? Why was Izuku asking him that?

“I don’t know? Look at a calendar or something.”

Izuku hummed to himself as Katsuki stood up and returned to the desk, picking up his pencil again.

“Do you have a valentine, Kacchan?”

Katsuki’s pencil slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the desk.

“What?! Why does that matter?” Bakugo snapped, his voice sharp with confusion.

“It doesn’t. I’ve just never seen you with one, I guess,” Izuku replied casually, not seeming to notice Katsuki’s reaction.

Katsuki realized he was overreacting to a simple question. Why was he getting so defensive?

“Well... whatever, nerd. Just focus on your homework.”

And with that, the two fell back into silence, each returning to their work.

But now that Izuku had brought it up, Katsuki couldn’t help but think about it. Had he ever had a valentine? Middle school Bakugo definitely didn’t have the personality for that kind of thing. Hell, even now, he wasn’t exactly Mr. Romance. But if it were with Izuku... he might be willing to give all that sappy stuff a try.

Not that it mattered right now. It was still the beginning of their second year, so Valentine’s Day was a long way off.

Several minutes passed, and Izuku couldn’t help but notice the repetitive tap-tap-tap of Katsuki’s pencil against his desk. The sound drew his attention from his own work, and he glanced up to see Katsuki struggling.

Katsuki’s injured arm was giving him trouble. It was his dominant hand, the one he usually wrote with, but the injury made holding the pencil for long amounts of time a challenge. He had been trying to write with his left hand, but his handwriting wasn’t quite up to par yet. So, he stubbornly continued using his right hand, even though it was clearly difficult for him now.

He should have gone to his physiotherapy session this week.

“Kacchan…” Izuku’s voice was quiet, gentle, as he tried to get Katsuki’s attention. But Katsuki was still focused, still battling with the pencil in his hand.

“Kacchan.”

“Kacchan?!”

“What!” Bakugo snapped, finally giving up and letting the pencil fall from his grip.

“Did you go to your physiotherapy?” Izuku asked, concern evident in his voice.

“Yeah…”

Izuku could always tell when Katsuki was lying. It was another one of Katsuki Bakugo’s vulnerabilities.

“No, you didn’t.”

Goddammit, Izuku.

“I was just a little behind on schoolwork, so I couldn’t go. I’ll—”

“Kacchan, you can’t skip those appointments! Mr. Aizawa will understand!” Izuku’s tone shifted, frustration mingling with his concern.

Katsuki’s eyes widened at the sound of Izuku’s voice. There was something in it—a mix of worry and frustration—that made him look up, tearing his gaze away from his uncooperative hand.

His eyes are so green.

Izuku’s face was etched with worry, and it tugged at the strings of Katsuki's heart, hoping it wouldn't pick up in pace.

“Give me your hand,” Izuku said, his voice serious.

He was asking for Katsuki’s hand.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about it,” Bakugo mumbled, shifting his gaze back to the pencil lying uselessly beside his hand.

“Shut up and give it to me.”

Katsuki’s gaze snapped back to Izuku, surprised by the forcefulness in his voice. Izuku was holding out his hand again, waiting.

Izuku knew that Katsuki wasn’t fond of physical touch, especially when it didn’t seem necessary. But…

Since the war, all Katsuki had wanted was to touch Izuku, just to make sure he was really there. But he was afraid—afraid that Izuku wouldn’t feel the same, wouldn’t have that same warmth.

But right now, he felt all of Izuku’s warmth reaching out to him, and he couldn’t resist it. He couldn’t turn it down.

Without a word, Katsuki placed his hand in Izuku’s. He felt the smoothness of Izuku’s scars as they slid across his palm.

“Thanks, Kacchan.”

Katsuki tore his gaze from their joined hands and looked up to see Izuku smiling—a genuine smile, the kind that scrunched up the bridge of his nose and brought a soft pink tint to the apples of his cheeks.

“Quit looking at me like that, you nerd,” Katsuki mumbled, quickly turning his head to hide the red creeping across his face.

Izuku chuckled softly and gave Katsuki’s hand a gentle squeeze.

Damn you, Izuku.

“Sorry, it’s just… you gave me your hand without me really explaining what I was going to do with it.”

He’s right, Katsuki thought. He had trusted Izuku completely, not even questioning what he intended to do.

“Well just do whatever you’re planning on doing.”

“Really? I was going to massage it for you. I remember some of the treatments they used on me when I injured my hands. I bet I can do it for you.”

“Yeah, sure,” Katsuki muttered, still keeping his head turned away from Izuku.

Izuku nodded, humming softly as he shifted to properly hold Katsuki’s arm. He moved closer to the edge of the bed as Katsuki sat in the desk chair beside it.

The sudden shift of warmth radiating from Izuku made Bakugo instinctively turn his head back to him. Izuku was focused, carefully adjusting Katsuki’s arm into a comfortable position.

Katsuki realized he was letting Izuku do whatever he wanted with his arm. But as long as it was Izuku, he knew he was in safe hands.

Katsuki shifted his chair closer to Izuku until their knees touched.

Izuku began to gently but firmly knead his thumbs into Katsuki's palm, gradually working his way up to his wrist and then his forearm, being careful to be more gentle as he went along.

Katsuki was a little bewildered that he was even allowing Izuku to massage his arm, but the ache from earlier was starting to fade, and he found himself easing into the situation.

“We’re gonna be in chronic pain for the rest of our damn lives,” Katsuki broke the silence, lightly chuckling at his own remark. He wasn’t wrong.

“Yeah, our bodies feel like they’re four times our age. Why do I have major back pain at seventeen?”

Both boys laughed, amused by the fact that they, as teenagers, were experiencing the aches and pains of someone far older.

Izuku remained focused on Katsuki’s arm, his gaze intense and full of care. Katsuki watched him, noticing how Izuku bit the inside of his cheek as he concentrated, his face laced with determination and tenderness.

Why was Izuku doing this? Katsuki didn’t deserve his care and tenderness—not after all the years of bullying. Katsuki was his tormentor, for god’s sake.

Izuku felt a slight tug from Katsuki’s hand, but he responded by gently pulling back.

“Why are you pulling away? Did I use too much pressure?” Izuku asked, his voice a mix of confusion and curiosity.

“No, it’s not that, it’s just...” Katsuki trailed off.

Was he really going to do this now?

“I—” Katsuki hesitated, feeling the warmth of Izuku’s fingers sliding between his own. He knew exactly what Izuku was doing, but he couldn't risk looking down. If he did, his face might betray him by turning beet red. He kept his hand stiff, unable to reciprocate.

Katsuki’s eyes widened as he met Izuku’s soft, concerned gaze. Izuku was waiting for him to finish his sentence, patient and unyielding. Izuku knew Katsuki wasn’t fond of physical affection, but he needed to know how close Katsuki would let him get. Right now, it felt like he was already too close.

Was he pushing it? Was he making Katsuki uncomfortable?

What the hell was he doing? Holding Kacchan's hand like they were some married couple!

Izuku’s face flushed red as he quickly pulled his hand away, waving his hands in front of his face in a flustered attempt to hide his embarrassment.

“Ah, I’m sorry, Kacchan! I didn’t realize I was making you uncomfortable! I was just trying to comfort you, but I should’ve thought about how you’d feel first—”

“Why do you do so much for me?” Katsuki interrupted, his voice low.

Izuku froze, his hands dropping as he looked at Katsuki, who was now staring at his lap, arms limp by his sides.

“Kacchan, what do you mean?”

“You know.”

“No, I don’t.”

How could he not? Why did Izuku even bother with him after everything Katsuki had done?

“Bullshit,” Katsuki snarled.

He stood up abruptly, knocking the chair back as he faced Izuku.

“You always stuck to me like goddamn glue! No matter how much I pushed you around! Why, Izuku?” Katsuki growled, his voice trembling as his eyes began to gloss over.

But Izuku didn’t flinch. He just stared up at Katsuki, expression unreadable.

“Fuck, say something, you jerk!”

Izuku smiled softly and shook his head. “Because there’s no way I’m giving up on you that easily.”

Izuku stood from the bed, now face to face with Katsuki.

To be fair, Izuku had always seen potential in Katsuki—potential to be a hero or just a better version of himself. He was determined to stick around and witness that transformation. But it wasn’t until now that Izuku fully realized that he was part of that change.

“Kacchan, no matter how much of a pain in the ass you are, that didn’t stop my undying determination or the admiration I have for you.”

Katsuki was stunned. Izuku stuck around because he admired him?

“The admiration I have for you fuels me to keep close to you.”

Stop.

“So you endured all my shit just because... you admire me?”

“Yup, ever since we were kids.”

Izuku spoke calmly while Katsuki was on the verge of tears, unable to grasp that Izuku genuinely wanted to keep him around.

“Shut up, you don’t know what you’re saying,” Katsuki muttered, burying his face in his arm.

Izuku sniffled, wiping away a few tears of his own before placing his hand on Katsuki’s arm, gently lowering it until they were face to face again, flushed and teary-eyed.

“I do know what I’m saying, Kacchan. I’ve felt it more than you know.”

Of course he has.

“You compassionate fuck,” Katsuki teased, a soft smile breaking through his tears.

“Yeah, you’re lucky I am,” Izuku teased back, mirroring his smile.

Izuku gently guided Katsuki and himself back onto the bed, trying to help them both regain their composure. It was easier for Izuku to settle his emotions, but Katsuki struggled, still wrestling with the guilt that weighed heavily on him. His sniffles echoed in the quiet room as he wiped away the tears staining his flushed cheeks.

An spoken understanding now existed between them—why Katsuki had bullied Izuku for so long and why Izuku had stuck around despite it. Both boys felt that the misunderstandings that once loomed over their relationship had finally been cleared.

Yet Izuku knew that Katsuki's guilt lingered, rooted deep in their past. Honestly, if it weren’t for Katsuki’s harshness, Izuku might never have found the confidence that now defined him, as Uraraka had reminded him the other night. But Katsuki didn’t see it that way—he couldn’t.

Izuku couldn't just sit there, watching Katsuki wipe away the last of his tears. He wanted to comfort him, but not in a way that would make Katsuki feel awkward. There was no way he was going to repeat that hand gesture from earlier—it had only made Katsuki uncomfortable. 

But there was one thing Izuku wanted to do—something he needed to do. He wanted to hug Katsuki. Not because he craved the closeness, but because he needed to feel Katsuki’s heartbeat against his own, to remind himself that they were both still alive, still fighting.

Izuku hadn’t shared this with many people, only Uraraka, but the nightmares of the war still haunted him. It wasn’t uncommon for his classmates to have them, but for Izuku, one nightmare repeated itself over and over. In it, he returned to the coffin in the sky, but Edgeshot and Best Jeanist weren’t there to sew Katsuki up, to give him a second chance. In that nightmare, he stayed dead.

Every time, he’d run toward his lifeless body, only to lose his arms again, unable to hold Katsuki close. It had been two weeks since he last had that nightmare—the longest he’d gone without it—but the thought still lingered, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

Izuku was pulled from his thoughts by the silence that filled the room. He looked up to see Katsuki had regained his composure, but was now staring at him with an unreadable expression—perhaps even a hint of annoyance.

Damn it, Izuku thought, I’ve been lost in my own head while Kacchan was sitting right here, crying in front of me.

“Sorry, Kacchan, I was just thinking about something... Are you okay?”

“Spit it out.”

One of Izuku’s weaknesses around Katsuki was that Katsuki always knew when something was on his mind.

“Oh, uh, it’s nothing really. It’s not the right time for me to bring it up, I can—”

“Tell me, Izuku.”

Izuku’s gaze shot up from his thumbs, which had been nervously twirling around each other, to Katsuki’s stern expression. With that tone, Izuku knew he couldn’t hold back. This moment was about them, their emotions, their feelings. Katsuki had already opened up; now it was Izuku’s turn.

Taking a deep breath, Izuku adjusted his position, shifting to sit cross-legged on the bed, facing Katsuki.

“I’ve been having these nightmares...” Izuku paused, raising his head to meet Katsuki’s eyes. “And they’ve been about you.”

“Tell me about them.”

“Well... it’s a recurring nightmare, but recently they haven’t been as frequent. I’m not sure why...”

Izuku knew exactly why the nightmares had lessened: spending more time with Katsuki—morning runs, studying together, combat training, and their relaxed conversations—had eased his mind. But he wasn’t going to tell Katsuki that; he could figure it out himself if he wanted to.

Izuku hesitated, unsure how to ease into the topic of his dreams. “I can’t even begin to say it out loud, Kacchan, but...” His voice faltered as tears began to well up. “It’s just... you lying there, dead, lifeless... and staying like that.”

He wasn’t looking at Katsuki anymore, his face buried in his hands as he covered his eyes. Even so, he could feel Katsuki’s intense gaze on him, listening intently. He continued, despite the tears.

“And when I run to you, before I can even reach you, my arms start decaying, and I fall to my knees.” Izuku buried his face into his arm, clenching his shirt over his chest. “Your heart... still as ever... not even a chance you might come back.” His sobs were muffled against his arm.

Izuku couldn’t see it, but Katsuki’s face was stunned, his expression solid as tears began to trail down his own face. Katsuki was well aware that he had died, albeit temporarily, thanks to Edgeshot and Best Jeanist. He couldn’t deny it had been a traumatic and horrific sight for everyone, including himself. He knew exactly what he was doing when he charged at Shigaraki; he knew he was going to die. It was a suicide mission.

Though he was coping well enough now, focusing on rehabilitating his arm and regaining his strength, grateful to be alive, he hadn’t considered how deeply Izuku had been affected. Katsuki had assumed Izuku was simply relieved he’d survived.

Katsuki felt like a jerk.

If he had seen Izuku dead, he knew he’d be furious, devastated, probably lashing out. Hell his body had moved on its own to save Izuku from getting impaled. From what he’d heard from Mirio and Best Jeanist, Izuku had indeed lashed out and even had a panic attack.

Why had he just assumed Izuku would just be relieved he was alive? Izuku felt things deeply. His death must have shaken Izuku to the core.

You asshole, Katsuki thought.

Katsuki knew what he had to do.

“Give me your hand.”

Izuku slowly lowered his arm, revealing his flushed, tear-streaked face. He looked up to see Katsuki extending his hand, waiting for him to take it.

Gently, Izuku placed his right hand into Katsuki’s. He felt a firm yet tender tug, pulling him forward. Before he realized it, warmth enveloped the back and palm of his hand as it pressed tightly against Katsuki’s chest.

Through the fabric of Katsuki’s shirt, Izuku could feel the faint rise of a scar, and beneath it, the steady beat of his heart.

“Do you feel it?” Katsuki asked, his voice quiet, almost vulnerable.

Who knew the simple thump of someone’s heart could bring so much comfort?

More tears welled up in Izuku’s eyes as a soft smile spread across his face. He nodded gently.

“I feel it.”

“Good.”

With Izuku’s hand pressed to his chest, Katsuki felt closer to him than ever before. It was a simple gesture, something kids might do to see whose heart raced faster after playing. But this... This was different. Izuku was the closest person to his heart without causing it pain, both physically and emotionally. Despite Katsuki’s harshness, Izuku had always understood him, always cared.

Katsuki didn’t want to let go.

Izuku felt Katsuki’s heartbeat quicken, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

“Huh? What’s so funny?” Katsuki growled, irritation clear on his face.

“Oh, nothing… Just wondering if I’m the one making your heart flutter a little faster than usual,” Izuku teased.

Damn it. Katsuki could feel the heat rising to his cheeks, completely betraying the answer to Izuku’s question. But for Izuku, he didn’t mind at all.

“Shut up! Way to ruin the moment,” Katsuki grumbled, turning his head to hide the red creeping across his face. Yet, he still held onto Izuku’s hand, unwilling to let go.

“Yes, I’m sorry, Kacchan…” Izuku said, though the slight high pitch to his voice revealed he was holding back laughter.

And then, Izuku couldn’t contain it any longer. He began to laugh, burying his face in his arm in a vain attempt to muffle the sound.

Katsuki sighed. He wasn’t going to do a damn thing about it. As much as it irritated him, the truth was that he was happy. Happy that he could make Izuku smile and laugh, even if it was at his expense. A surge of pride washed over him.

Katsuki rolled his eyes but let Izuku continue to laugh.

“I’m sorry, Kacchan. Really, it’s just… cute,” Izuku managed to say through hiccups of laughter.

He’s going to be the death of me, Katsuki thought.

“Okay, quit it! See if I’ll ever let you do this again!” he snapped, finally turning back to face Izuku, who was already looking up at him with those bright, green eyes.

“Whatever you say, Kacchan… But you’re the one still holding my hand tightly to your chest,” Izuku teased again, that cheeky smile ever so clear.

If Katsuki held his hand there any longer, he was going to activate his quirk and blow up the nerd’s face.

With a scoff, Katsuki let go of Izuku’s hand. “Well, yeah… not anymore.”

Izuku chuckled as he pulled his hand back, still feeling the echo of Katsuki’s racing heartbeat in his palm.

“Well… thank you, Kacchan. I don’t think you know how much that meant to me.”

Katsuki looked into Izuku’s eyes and saw the deep emotion reflected there, more pronounced than when he first entered the room.

But of course, Katsuki knew how much it meant to him. He was the one who had placed Izuku’s hand there in the first place. But there was no way in hell he was going to admit that.

“You’re welcome, nerd…”

Izuku rubbed the lingering warmth from Katsuki’s chest between his hands, glancing at the clock on his desk.

It’s 11 PM? It’s almost midnight! Izuku thought, surprised. He hadn’t realized how long they’d been in his room, working on homework that was still unfinished, lost in the exchange of emotions that had overtaken them.

Katsuki was usually in bed well before 11 PM.

“Ah… I guess we got a little distracted from our homework. That's okay, though. We can finish it tomorrow,” Izuku said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Katsuki had completely forgotten about the time—and their homework. He must have been deep in his feelings, given how surprising it was that he hadn’t started feeling sleepy yet. But that wasn’t an excuse to leave things unfinished.

“No, we’re finishing it tonight. You’re the one who didn’t want to be stuck with it over the weekend,” Katsuki said firmly, sitting up from Izuku’s bed and stretching his arms over his head.

“Yeah, but it’s late. Aren’t you usually in bed by now?” Izuku asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Huh? How’d you know that, creep?”

Creep? Izuku thought, taken aback.

“What?!” he squeaked, surprised by Katsuki’s remark.

“I don’t know, Kacchan—maybe because ever since we were kids, you couldn’t even stay up past 9 to watch a movie,” Izuku replied, his tone teasing.

Katsuki scowled but didn’t deny it. Izuku knew that Katsuki didn’t just go to bed early to wake up feeling fresh. For some reason, staying up late was a challenge for him. That’s why movie nights in the common room weren’t his favorite—he could never make it through the whole film.

“Shut up! I was a kid. I can stay up a little later now… Let’s just finish this damn homework,” Katsuki snapped back, though there was a hint of a smile as he plopped himself back at Izuku’s desk. Izuku chuckled softly, still seated on his bed.

“Sure thing…"

They resumed their work, with Izuku occasionally asking questions and Katsuki guiding him to the right answers. They enjoyed the comfortable silence as they worked, the earlier exchange of emotions lingering in the background.

Tonight had been a moment they would both replay in their minds until it happened again—something they both secretly hoped for.

But for now, the boys couldn’t hope anymore, as sleep finally claimed them.

Katsuki slumped over the desk, head resting on his arm, while Izuku leaned against his bed frame, both of their homework completed.

It had been a long night of emotions, and they deserved a good rest. They could only hope their classmates wouldn’t question why Katsuki was leaving Izuku’s room in the morning.

Katsuki slowly began to wake up, the morning sunlight filtering through the cracks of what seemed like striped curtains—blue, red, and white. It took a moment for him to remember where he was. Right, he had been helping Izuku with his English homework last night. They had exchanged more than just words—feelings and emotions had been shared, leaving Katsuki drained. He wasn't one for discussing his feelings, so he must have fallen asleep. If he recalled correctly, he had passed out with his head on Izuku’s desk. The stiff neck he was about to experience was sure to be a nightmare.

But as Katsuki began to lift his head, he was surprised. There was no soreness, and instead of the hard desk, he felt something soft beneath him. Confused, he rubbed his eyes to clear away the remnants of sleep and adjusted his vision to his surroundings.

Izuku was laying right beside him, eyes closed, his chest rising and falling with gentle breaths. The sliver of morning light shining through the curtains illuminated his face, highlighting the light brown freckles on his left cheek as his right cheek was nestled into the pillow. Katsuki hadn’t seen Izuku this peaceful since the war, and the sight was everything to him.

He looked down and noticed Izuku’s pinky finger linked with his own, their hands resting in the small space between them. Katsuki couldn’t help but think, clingy idiot as a small smile tugged at his lips.

It didn’t feel strange for them to be sleeping together like this. They’d had sleepovers when they were kids, though Katsuki used to hog the bed, often pushing Izuku against the wall. But how did he end up in Izuku’s bed this time? He must have gotten up in the middle of the night, maybe to use the bathroom, and was too tired to go back to his own room. It made sense that Izuku knew he was there, given how their pinkies were linked.

Wow, I’m really wrapped around his finger—his pinky, to be exact, Katsuki thought, chuckling softly at the realization.

The sound of his own laughter made him quickly silence himself, pressing his lips into a thin line. He didn’t want to wake Izuku. Fortunately, Izuku remained undisturbed, still deep in slumber. Katsuki felt a little guilty for staring at him like this—he didn’t want to come across as a creep—but he couldn’t tear his eyes away. Seeing Izuku at peace, without discomfort or the burden of nightmares, was a rare sight. And Katsuki had front-row seats to it.

He wondered, fleetingly, if Izuku’s peacefulness had anything to do with him being there. But he shook his head, dismissing the thought. Don’t think too highly of yourself, he told himself. Izuku was probably just comfortable, that’s all.

After a few minutes, Katsuki decided it was time to get up and grab some breakfast. He carefully disentangled his pinky from Izuku’s, gently laying Izuku’s hand back on the mattress before slipping out of bed. He turned to leave the room but couldn’t resist taking one last look at Izuku, savoring the moment.

As he quietly closed the door behind him, Katsuki turned around, only to hear his name being called.

“Bakugo?” Mina’s curious voice reached him, and he noticed Uraraka beside her, her expression equally curious.

Great, Katsuki thought, mentally groaning. Mina, who knew about his sappy feelings for Izuku, and Uraraka, one of Izuku’s best friends. What were they thinking, seeing him leave Izuku’s room first thing in the morning? He didn’t feel like being interrogated. 

“Yeah?” Katsuki grumbled, still groggy. He was a sight—one leg of his sweatpants scrunched up to his knee, the strap of his black tank top hanging off his shoulder, and his hair an absolute mess. He looked like a toddler who had just woken up from the best nap ever—and in truth, he felt like it too.

But to the girls, he must have looked like he had just had a wild night. The sight was clearly amusing to them.

The girls exchanged sidelong glances, grins forming on their faces.

“So, Bakugo… how was your night?” Uraraka asked, her grin cheeky.

“Yeah, did you sleep well?” Mina added slyly.

Still half-asleep, Katsuki couldn’t understand why they were acting this way. “Yeah, fine. What’s it to you?” he muttered.

“Oh, nothing!” Mina teased, rolling her eyes. “Just odd to see the Katsuki Bakugo leaving Izuku Midoriya’s room at the crack of dawn on a Saturday…”

“Oh, shut it, Mina!” Uraraka snapped, giving her a playful smack on the arm before grabbing her hand to pull her away. “Don’t worry about it, Bakugo! Enjoy your morning!” she called back, dragging a giggling Mina down the hall.

Katsuki stood there, scratching his head in confusion. “Girls are weird…” he mumbled to himself as he began walking back to his room.

But after a few steps, it hit him. The girls were right—it was odd for him to be coming out of Izuku’s room in the morning, especially looking the way he did. Whatever reason they had for teasing him probably wasn’t a good one.

“Fuck,” he muttered, dragging his hands down his face in frustration.

He’d definitely have to clear this up with them later, but first, breakfast. He was already starting to feel hungry.

Izuku stirred awake, groaning as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. For once, he felt well-rested, thanks to Katsuki being by his side—

But Katsuki wasn’t there anymore.

“He must’ve woken up already,” Izuku mumbled, pulling his arm back from the empty space beside him.

He didn’t think too much of it. Katsuki couldn’t survive his mornings without breakfast. Still, knowing Katsuki had stayed with him through the night set Izuku’s mind at ease. It wasn’t just comforting—lying beside him had banished the nightmares that usually plagued him.

Izuku remembered linking his pinky with Katsuki’s in the middle of the night when Katsuki had flopped onto the bed beside him. It felt silly, but that tiny touch made him feel secure, proof that Katsuki was really there and alive. He just hoped it hadn’t weirded Katsuki out.

“Ugh, I keep embarrassing myself, don’t I?” Izuku groaned, burying his face in the pillow, still too groggy to fully process the thought.

Suddenly, rapid knocks at the door startled him. He shot out of bed, tripping over his own feet as he scrambled to open the door.

“What the hell happened last night?” two girls exclaimed.

“Oh, sorry, you look like you just woke up…” one of the girls, voice lowering.

Izuku squinted against the bright light streaming through the dormitory hallways, struggling to see who was in front of him. From the familiar voices, he guessed it was Mina and Uraraka.

“Yeah, I did… But what do you mean, what happened last night?” Izuku asked, rubbing his eyes as he yawned.

“Well, we saw Bakugo leave your room this morning and assumed—”

“Ah! We didn’t assume anything, Mina!” Uraraka snapped, cutting her off with a stern look.

“Oh, right… My bad,” Mina chuckled awkwardly.

“Anyway, it’s just something you don’t see every day, so we were just wondering what happened…” Mina finished, curiosity evident in her voice.

Even though Izuku had just woken up, he absorbed their words. Mina spoke quickly, but he still understood her perfectly. Unfortunately, that was the problem—he understood a little too well.

“Okay, okay, first off, what are you guys implying? And second, nothing happened! Just…” Izuku trailed off as he thought back to last night. He was lying—something did happen, but it wasn’t what the girls were thinking.

The two girls noticed the distant look on Izuku’s face. They had expected some crazy confession, but from his expression, they realized something deeper had occurred.

“Never mind that… Deku, what really happened?” Uraraka asked, her tone filled with concern.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Mina echoed, just as concerned.

Even though he had just woken up, Izuku would definitely appreciate sharing the moment from last night. It was a heartfelt one, to say the least.

“Yeah, actually… It’s not upsetting or anything, just so you know,” Izuku replied, his distant look replaced with a more resolute one.

With that, the girls nodded and smiled, stepping into Izuku’s room.

Mina and Uraraka knew about Izuku’s feelings, but there was no way they would ruin the moment by revealing how Katsuki truly felt about him.

But my god, they were about to explode if they had to keep it a secret any longer.

The three of them sat on Izuku’s bed, eager to hear him recount the events of the previous night. As he began explaining, Izuku used his hands to gesture, illustrating the moments they had shared, going into deep detail about what had happened and how he felt about it all.

It was a lot to take in, but the girls, fascinated by the boys' dynamic, listened intently, absorbing every word Izuku shared. To be fair, they liked how things were progressing.

They were aware of the past bumps and troubles in the boys’ relationship, but in that moment, they could see how much the two had evolved, working through those difficulties together.

From what the two girls were hearing from Izuku, it was clear that last night marked a significant step forward in the boys’ relationship—opening and crossing new bridges with each other.

However, the girls also understood that there were still things in the boys’ relationship that needed to be smoothed out. That confession they were hoping to hear about wasn’t going to happen just yet, but they both agreed it was for the best.

“But yeah... it was definitely a lot,” Izuku concluded his explanation.

“It was a lot, but definitely worth it,” Mina spoke first. “It seems that out of everyone, he trusts you the most to be vulnerable with.”

“I agree,” Uraraka added. “A lot of his feelings and emotions seem to revolve around you, so him being open about those feelings to you specifically means a lot.”

“And you being honest with him has opened new doors, new understandings in your relationship,” Uraraka finished, her tone warm and reassuring.

The girls exchanged soft smiles, proud of the boys for finally communicating about their feelings.

“Yeah, I agree with you girls... I definitely feel more satisfied with how we communicated about things that needed to be talked about,” Izuku said with a slight chuckle, prompting the girls to giggle along with him.

“I’m glad. It’s about time you two sorted your shit out,” Mina teased with a grin.

“Mina!” Uraraka scolded playfully, flicking her forehead.

“Ouch! I’m not wrong!” Mina pouted, rubbing the sore spot.

Izuku laughed at their playful banter, the mood in the room lightening considerably.

“Thank you. I really appreciate your help with these chaotic feelings and just... everything,” Izuku said once he regained his composure.

“Deku, anything you need, we’ll be there. And that’s not just limited to us,” Uraraka reassured him with a smile.

“We’ve quite literally been through war together. No matter what worries you have, we’ll try our hardest to help ease them,” Mina added cheerfully, flashing a bright smile at Izuku.

Feeling deeply grateful for his friends, Izuku’s eyes began to water.

Noticing this, the girls leaned in, wrapping him in a warm group hug.

“And for as long as I’m alive, I’ll make sure to do the same for you girls,” Izuku whispered, his chin resting on Mina and Uraraka’s shoulders, savoring the embrace.

Now downstairs in the kitchen, Katsuki found himself in a similar situation with Jirou, Denki, and Kirishima. Somehow, they had found out about him leaving Izuku’s room—Mina must have told Kirishima.

Knowing it was better to explain what had happened rather than letting them jump to conclusions, Katsuki braced himself. He already had a pretty good idea of what they assumed.

As he finished recounting the events plainly, the three teenagers exchanged stunned glances, clearly surprised. Jirou was the first to speak.

“You know, I didn’t peg you for the sappy type, but it sounds like you two had a moment—one that was definitely needed, if you ask me. Good for you, Bakugo,” Jirou said nonchalantly, twirling her earphone jack between her fingers. Katsuki just rolled his eyes, though he knew she was right.

“Yeah, same here, man. Expressing your feelings and being vulnerable like that is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s super manly of you,” Kirishima added cheerfully, giving Katsuki a wink and a thumbs up.

“That’s kinda gay, Bakugo,” Denki teased, smirking.

Jirou and Kirishima immediately snapped their heads toward Denki, disbelief on their faces, though they were clearly fighting back laughter. They slowly turned their gaze back to Katsuki, whose face had turned red—whether from irritation or something else was unclear.

Jirou couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth.

“That’s all you’ve got to say, jerk?” Katsuki snarled, his eyes narrowing.

“Chill out, crazy eyes! Jeez, it was a joke... obviously, that’s not all I’ve got to say,” Denki said quickly, trying to defend himself. He sighed and shook his head. “Look, I’m serious. It’s good that you’re being open about these feelings you’ve clearly had on your mind for a while.”

Jirou and Kirishima both sighed in relief, glad Denki had cleared things up before Katsuki did something drastic.

Katsuki’s frown eased into a neutral expression, and he gave Denki a quick nod before crossing his arms. “Yeah, they’ve been on my mind for a while now, and I’m glad we talked things through. But that doesn’t help with the other feelings I have...”

The three teenagers exchanged knowing looks—they all understood what Katsuki was getting at. The “other feelings” were about the love he felt for Izuku.

“And why do you think these specific feelings are so hard to bring up?” Kirishima asked, curiosity evident in his voice, though he had a good idea of the answer.

The question hit Katsuki harder than he expected. Why was it so hard to tell Izuku he loved him? He knew how much he cared for him, but putting it into words felt impossible. Katsuki had never been great with words, but if he wanted to tell Izuku, he’d have to use them.

He had always been more of an action guy when it came to showing affection. But wasn’t throwing himself in the way to take a hit for Izuku proof enough? He wasn’t sure how else to show Izuku that he loved him, except by always wanting to protect him.

“I don’t know, I guess I just wouldn’t know how to say it out loud,” Katsuki finally admitted, uncertainty lingering in his voice.

The memory of last night lingered in his mind. Katsuki remembered how all Izuku wanted was to feel his heart—to confirm that he was alive. For all he knew, Izuku would reach out to touch his very soul if it meant having solid proof that he was still here. Maybe, after all, Katsuki didn’t need to say anything to prove his love to Izuku. Why did he think he had to say it out loud? Love manifests in so many ways.

If it meant holding each other close for who knows how long, Katsuki would do it.

"I can show it," Katsuki mumbled, still lost in thought. His voice, louder than most when he wasn’t trying, caught the attention of the three teenagers in the kitchen. They had already noticed his silence over the past few minutes, and knew he was deep in his own world.

A gentle poke on his shoulder pulled Katsuki out of his thoughts. He turned to see who had interrupted.

“Show him your love, Bakugo,” Jirou whispered, her fist pumping softly in encouragement, a warm smile on her lips.

“I will,” Katsuki replied in the same hushed tone, returning her smile in his own way.

He had grown fond of Jirou, almost like he had with Mina. After the war, everyone had become more supportive, but for some reason, Mina and Jirou had been the most helpful, offering the best advice. It wasn’t a friendship he had ever expected to flourish, but he was glad it did.

“Ah, speak of the devil,” Kirishima said, breaking up the exchange between Jirou and Katsuki as he announced the arrival of more friends.

Mina and Uraraka entered the kitchen first, with Izuku trailing behind them, still looking like he was waking up. He appeared almost as disheveled as Katsuki did when he rolled out of bed.

“Oh, hey, guys! What are y’all chatting about?” Mina asked, her voice brightening with excitement at seeing her friends.

“Nothing…” Jirou replied in her usual laid-back tone, but she glanced at Katsuki, making it clear to Mina that they had been discussing something important. Mina caught the hint and gave a slight nod.

“Mhm, good morning, everyone…” Izuku greeted, his voice tinged with sleepiness as he rounded the corner, finally coming into full view.

“Damn, Midoriya, you look like you had the best sleep ever,” Kirishima joked.

“yeah, I did actually…” Izuku replied softly, his gaze shifting to Katsuki.

“Good morning, Kacchan,” Izuku said, offering Katsuki a small smile.

For fuck’s sake, Katsuki thought, feeling the weight of the moment.

“Morning,” Katsuki responded, his voice softer than usual as they locked eyes, the rest of the room fading away.

Their friends, witnessing this tender exchange, exchanged knowing glances, some grinning, others rolling their eyes.

“Okay, pack it up, guys, get a room,” Denki teased, ever the impractical joker.

Laughter erupted among their friends, and Katsuki and Izuku’s soft expressions quickly turned into ones of flustered embarrassment.

“Huh?! Shut up, I just said ‘morning!’” Katsuki growled, turning to face Denki.

“It didn’t look like that! Looked like you were about to get down on one knee!” Denki shot back, still giggling.

But as Katsuki’s friends laughed, he tuned them out, focusing on the one laugh that mattered—Izuku’s. He turned his gaze back to him, catching the sight of Izuku’s bright smile, his eyes squeezed shut from laughing.

Even with his hair a mess and his shirt half-tucked into his gym shorts, Katsuki found himself utterly captivated by Izuku once again.

“Kaminari, I swear you need your own comedy show” Izuku said as he regained his composure, the others following suit.

Katsuki forced himself to look away from Izuku. No way was he going to get caught looking all lovey-dovey over him.

“Yeah, whatever, short-circuit here can be funny…” Katsuki muttered, rolling his eyes as he flicked Denki’s forehead.

“Ouch! You’re just jealous I’m funny,” Denki pouted, rubbing the sore spot on his forehead.

Mina, the first to recover from her laughter, spoke up. “Hey, it’s Saturday, right? What are y’all’s weekend plans? Maybe we can all go out and do something today!”

Most of the group voiced their agreement, saying they were free and had nothing else planned. All except for Uraraka.

“I’ve actually got something planned for today. Sorry, guys, but maybe next time!” Uraraka said, catching everyone’s attention, especially the two people standing closest to her.

“Oh, really? What are your plans? Maybe we can work around them so you can still hang out with us!” Mina suggested, flashing a hopeful smile.

“That’s sweet of you, Mina, but I think I’ll pass today,” Uraraka replied, sounding a bit regretful as she turned down the invitation. It was clear that whatever she had planned was important.

Izuku and Mina exchanged a knowing glance, already guessing what Uraraka had in mind.

“Are you going to visit himiko? If so, that’s okay. I’m sure she appreciates your visits,” Izuku said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Uraraka often hesitated to mention Toga, but her classmates were always supportive. They understood that Toga had a significant impact on her, so they never discouraged her from doing what she felt was right.

Izuku, knowing the full story, understood her better than most. He was there to support her in any way he could.

“Yeah, I am… Thanks for understanding, Deku,” Uraraka replied quietly, so only Izuku and Mina could hear her. She gave them a grateful nod.

“Anytime, Uraraka,” Izuku whispered, offering a small smile. Mina picked up Uraraka’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “We’ll always be here for you.”

With a confident smile and a nod, Uraraka started to head back to her room to prepare for her visit. “I’m so sorry, guys! I promise I’ll make it next time!” she called out from down the hall.

“It’s okay, enjoy your day!” Jirou shouted back.

“So, it’s still morning. Why don’t we regroup around 2 PM and go from there?” Izuku suggested.

Katsuki, still on the fence about joining the group hangout, weighed his options. But if Izuku had already decided to go, Katsuki figured there was no harm in tagging along.

“Yeah, sure, but where are we going?” Katsuki asked.

“Oh! I know of this arcade that opened a few weeks ago! Denki and I have already been there, but I bet all of you guys would enjoy it,” Kirishima suggested enthusiastically, earning multiple nods and excited agreements.

And with that, Izuku, Mina, Denki, Katsuki, Kirishima, and Jirou had plans for the weekend, possibly with some of their other classmates joining as well.

Uraraka made her way to visit Toga, stopping by a convenience store and a flower shop along the way. She picked up some incense and a bouquet of pansy flowers. She had heard about these flowers before and learned that they symbolize thoughts of lovers, remembrance, and nostalgia. It felt like the perfect gift for Toga.

As she walked into the cemetery, where Toga now rested, Uraraka approached the headstone, her steps careful and deliberate. Standing before it, she clasped her hands together, bowing her head in a moment of silence. Then, with the hishaku, she poured water over the gravestone, a traditional gesture of purification.

"I brought you a gift," Ochako finally spoke, her voice gentle as she placed the pansies into a vase and filled it with fresh water.

"I hope you don't mind purple... I wasn’t sure what your favourite colour was," she admitted softly, a tinge of sadness threading through her words. The realization struck her hard—she didn’t even know Toga’s favorite color, the girl who had given all her blood until there was none left to keep her heart beating.

But Toga gave her more than just her blood. Uraraka knew that—the twisted affection and admiration Toga felt for her had left a lasting imprint, something she could feel beating within her own heart. She cherished it, despite everything

Stepping back from the headstone, which was made from the same stone as the vase, Uraraka retrieved incense sticks from her bag. She lit them, placing them carefully in front of the monument, watching as the smoke curled up into the sky.

"The flowers seemed perfect for you," she paused, her voice beginning to waver. "People give them to represent thoughts of their lovers..."

Her voice broke as tears welled up in her eyes. "They also represent remembrance and nostalgia," Uraraka sobbed, her head falling into the palms of her hands.

“I wish we could've done all the things teenage girls do together,” Uraraka whispered, her voice trembling as tears began to spill. She placed a gentle hand on the gravestone. “Shopping dates, trying on cute outfits together, just being together without judgment…” 

She often wondered what society would think if they saw two girls—one on the side of villainy, the other on the side of heroism—together. But she refused to let those thoughts consume her. The deep care she had for Toga far outweighed the opinions of others. Uraraka was determined to stay true to her role as a hero while ensuring that Toga felt understood. She was always considerate of how Toga expressed herself, despite her troubling behavior. To Uraraka, Toga was just another teenage girl—a girl who had never been accepted, never given a chance to be understood.

She paused, her voice breaking, “I wish I could see you smile again…”

Izuku stood under the warm stream of his shower, letting the water cascade over his head and down his body, watching as it swirled down the drain. It was only noon, but he decided to get ready early, eager to have some free time before hanging out with his friends. After all they'd been through, especially after the war, the teenagers deserved a peaceful break in their chaotic lives.

Eventually, he stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist. He used a smaller towel to dry his hair, which he had started taking better care of. After the war, his body had been through hell, and he had developed a new routine to maintain his health. He used quality body lotion and solid hair products—ones recommended by Uraraka, Momo, and Tsuyu, for which he was very grateful. The difference was noticeable compared to the old, basic products he used before.

After completing his shower routine, Izuku moved to his closet, selecting a white hoodie, baggy dark blue denim jeans, and his signature red sneakers. He was simple when it came to clothes, prioritizing comfort and cleanliness over style. But today, he decided to add a bit of flair with the little jewelry he owned: his military watch with simple black leather straps on his right wrist, a steel tag necklace with his name engraved on it—a gift from his mother—and two multicolored beaded bracelets on his left wrist that Sero had given him, presumably because Sero had so many.

With about an hour to spare, Izuku checked his phone to see if Todoroki had replied to the invitation he sent before his shower.

Todoroki 

Hi Midoriya, sorry for the delayed response, but yes, I’d like to join you and the others for the hangout.

Izuku chuckled at Todoroki's formal tone. It always felt like he was receiving an email, not a text message.

Midoriya

Perfect! I’ll let the others know. We’ll be leaving at 2, so be ready by then.

As the time approached, Izuku grabbed a gray sweater to layer over his white hoodie and put on a black beanie to brace himself for the cool weather. When he met everyone downstairs, they greeted him with gentle waves, most of them busy putting on their shoes.

“Thanks for inviting me, Midoriya. I honestly had nothing else to do today,” Todoroki said with a small smile. “Although, I hope you guys don’t mind, but I also invited Sero.”

“What?! How’d you get him to talk? He owes me 20 bucks!” Bakugo blurted out, pushing Izuku’s face aside to stand directly in front of Todoroki.

“I don’t know, maybe because I didn’t yell at him,” Todoroki replied simply, triggering an irritated look on Bakugo's face.

“Get your sweaty hand off me, Kacchan,” Izuku mumbled as Bakugo’s hand remained planted on his face.

“Shut up, it’s not sweaty!”

“Yeah, it always is!”

And just like that, the three boys began bickering, as they always did when they were together, not noticing that Sero had already arrived. The rest of the group stood by, waiting to see if the boys would realize.

“Why do they always do this?” Jirou sighed.

“They fight like married couples—it’s honestly so amusing,” Kirishima added with a grin.

“Well, no matter how amusing it is, we have plans, and I’m not waiting any longer!” Mina urged.

Mina marched over to the three boys, breaking up their bickering. "Hello?! Are you guys brain-dead? We’re all waiting for you to shut up!" she shouted, her voice firm enough to grab their attention. The boys immediately stopped.

"Sorry, Mina..." Izuku apologized, while Katsuki rolled his eyes and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.

"Oh, Sero, you're already here," Todoroki said, sounding slightly surprised—he must have been too distracted to notice earlier.

"Yep, I sure am!" Sero responded with finger guns and a wink in Todoroki's direction.

With two more friends joining the group, they all made their way out of the dormitories, each pairing up. Mina and Kirishima walked slightly ahead, with Kirishima leading the way to the arcade. Meanwhile, Katsuki and Izuku walked side by side.

"I forgot to ask—how's your arm feeling? You know, from the cramping last night?" Izuku spoke up first, his voice laced with curiosity and concern.

"Eh, it’s fine..." Katsuki replied, though in truth, it felt a lot better after Izuku had massaged it the night before.

"Fine? So, it still aches a bit? I can massage it again if you want, unless you have your next physiotherapy session soon," Izuku suggested.

Katsuki couldn’t admit that he wanted Izuku to treat his arm again, just like last night. He couldn’t admit that it felt more comfortable—safer—when Izuku did it compared to his physiotherapist. Not that he doubted his therapist's skills, but Izuku always had this way of making him feel secure. Katsuki trusted him, and he trusted Izuku's methods.

He also couldn’t admit that he liked the warmth of Izuku's touch.

"Kacchan?" Izuku asked gently, concern lacing his voice as he noticed the distant look on Katsuki's face.

What’s he thinking about now? Izuku wondered.

"Huh?"

"You didn’t answer me. Does your arm still ache, and would you like me to massage it again?" Izuku repeated, finally gaining Katsuki’s full attention. Katsuki turned his head to face Izuku briefly before looking ahead again.

"Yeah, sure..." Katsuki mumbled.

"Sorry, what?"

"I said yes!"

"Sorry, I didn’t hear you."

"So... how about tonight? If you'd like, we could watch a movie or something in my room while—" Izuku began, but Katsuki cut him off.

"Sounds like you like my company, you clingy idiot."

"What?!" Izuku’s voice pitched up. "And what’s wrong with that? You don’t like mine?"

"What?! I didn’t say that!"

"So you’re saying you do?" Izuku asked with a smirk.

"I—stop twisting my words!" Katsuki snapped, sounding irritated, though he knew Izuku was right. He did enjoy his company 

After a brief silence, Izuku spoke up.

"So, is that a yes to the movie?"

“Yeah,” 

As they reached their destination, Kirishima announced with excitement, "We're here!" They had arrived at the arcade he'd mentioned earlier. Without hesitation, they all quickly but carefully headed inside, eager to check out the new spot. On one side, rows of claw machines offered small plushies and prizes of all sorts, while the other side boasted a variety of interactive games.

“Midoriya, want to see if you've still got those dance skills from the school festival?” Mina asked abruptly, her excitement clear as she pointed to the Dance Dance Revolution game.

“Oh boy, I’m not sure if—” Izuku began, but before he could finish, Mina grabbed his arm and led him to the game. It was clear that Izuku didn’t have much choice.

The two teenagers stepped onto the glowing arrows, and before long, they were matching the on-screen directions with their feet.

To Izuku’s surprise, he managed the steps quite well—proof that he still had the dance skills from the festival.

“Hey, I see you’ve still got moves, Midoriya!” Mina cheered. “But don’t get too comfortable, it’s going to get faster soon!”

“What song did you pick?” Izuku asked, almost sounding terrified. He wasn’t all that confident in his dance abilities just yet.

Mina braced herself against the bars behind her, and Izuku quickly did the same.

Their friends, who had come along, began cheering them on as the pace of the song picked up. The two teenagers matched the steps perfectly.

Katsuki stood nearby, a dumbfounded look on his face. He was surprised by how good Izuku’s footwork was, but then it hit him—of course, Izuku would have great control over his legs and feet. After all, he developed Shoot Style. It made sense that he could nail these steps like a pro.

Katsuki’s face softened as he caught a glimpse of Izuku’s intense focus, a huge grin spreading across his face as he enjoyed the moment. Katsuki couldn’t help but enjoy it too, from a distance.

A fond smile tugged at Katsuki’s lips, something Todoroki, who stood beside him, didn’t miss.

“Enjoying the moment, I see,” Todoroki teased, just loud enough for Katsuki to hear.

Oh crap, Katsuki thought. He’d been caught looking all lovey-dovey at Izuku.

“Shut up! So what if I am? You always gotta go ruin everything,” Katsuki grumbled before stomping off, grabbing Kaminari on the way.

“Wha—hey! I wanna watch them dance!” Kaminari protested.

“I came here to play games, not be a bystander,” Katsuki huffed.

Izuku heard Katsuki’s stomps and bickering in the distance as it seemed he was leaving to do his own thing. He figured he could find him later.

After Mina and Izuku finished their two rounds, they decided they needed a break before jumping into more games. They found a spot at a table near the small pizza place within the arcade, with Kirishima joining them.

“You guys killed it!” Kirishima cheered.

“Thanks, Kiri! But honestly, dancing is so exhausting...” Mina huffed, resting her head on Kirishima's shoulder.

Izuku glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of Katsuki playing a shooting range game with Kaminari. Katsuki’s focus was intense, his glare sharp, with a hint of a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

Izuku found himself unable to look away, fascinated by Katsuki. It wasn’t unusual—he admired him, after all.

From Mina and Kirishima’s perspective, though, it seemed like Izuku might as well have been drooling over the boy. They exchanged amused glances that silently said, Seriously?

Before they could tease him, Izuku snapped out of his trance, refocusing on his friends. “What game should we play next?” he asked, steering the conversation forward.

Time flew by, and with only a few minutes left before the arcade closed, Izuku realized he needed to find Katsuki. The rest of their group had started to leave, and Izuku eventually spotted Katsuki at a claw machine, a frustrated look on his face as he muttered curses under his breath. Izuku figured Katsuki was trying his hardest to win whatever prize was inside.

“Hey, Kacchan,” Izuku spoke calmly, not wanting to startle him. “Everyone’s starting to leave. Are you almost done here?”

“What! No, I need this,” Katsuki snapped, his eyes still fixed on the machine.

“What is it?” Izuku asked, peering through the glass. He saw a crocheted All Might plush, his face lighting up at the sight of the adorable toy. Pressing his face closer to the glass, he tried to get a better look. “It’s so cute!” he beamed.

Katsuki, amused by Izuku’s reaction, calmed down slightly and focused back on the task. He carefully lowered the crane over the plush, aiming precisely before finally securing it.

“You did it!” Izuku cheered, but before he could say more, Katsuki shoved the plush into his face.

“Since you like it so much, just take it,” Katsuki mumbled.

Izuku lowered the plush, a curious expression on his face. “Really? Didn’t you win it for yourself?”

“I—well, no. I was trying to get it for you, uh, you know... thanks for last night.”

Sap, Izuku thought, feeling a warm flutter in his chest.

“Oh! Thank you, Kacchan, but there’s no need to thank me. I should be the one saying—”

“Shut up! Just take it, nerd!” Katsuki barked, his face slightly flushed.

“O-okay!” Izuku stammered, holding the plush tightly.

Together, they left the arcade, Izuku clutching the small crocheted All Might plush in his hand. It wasn’t big—small enough to fit in his palm—but Izuku appreciated the gift, knowing Katsuki had intended it for him.

As they walked out, the rest of their friends were waiting outside.

“Jeez, took you guys long enough,” Sero commented, noticing the plush in Izuku’s hand. “Aw, that’s cute! How’d you win it, though? Those claw machines are a pain in the ass!”

“Oh, Kacchan actually won it for me!” Izuku replied, a bit bashful.

Katsuki stiffened as he felt the teasing smirks and glances aimed his way.

“Oh, really?” Mina asked slyly.

“Yeah, whatever. Let’s go,” Katsuki muttered, clearly embarrassed.

Once everyone returned to the dorms, the evening was already settling in, the clock showing 6 PM. That’s when Izuku realized that Uraraka still hadn’t returned from her visit to Toga. A sense of worry began to gnaw at him, so before everyone headed to their rooms, he made his way over to Mina.

“Hey, Mina, have you heard anything from Uraraka? It’s getting late, and she isn’t back yet,” Izuku asked quietly, concern evident in his voice.

“Oh, she didn’t text you?” Mina replied, her tone sympathetic. “She decided to stay with her parents tonight. I think today’s visit really took a toll on her.”

“Oh... I see. I hope she’s okay,” Izuku murmured, his concern still lingering.

“Why don’t you send her a text? I’m sure she’d appreciate hearing from you,” Mina suggested gently, trying to reassure him.

“Yeah, I will. Thanks for letting me know, Mina,” Izuku said, sounding a bit more relieved.

As he headed to his room, Izuku pulled out his phone and sent Uraraka a message.

Deku

Hey, I heard you’re staying at your parents’ place tonight. Is everything okay?

While waiting for a response, Izuku changed out of his day clothes into something more comfortable—grey sweatpants and a random black T-shirt. Still not having received a reply, he decided to freshen up, washing off the sweat and grime from his dance session at the arcade.

Just as he finished in the bathroom, his phone chimed with a notification—it was Uraraka.

Uraraka

Yeah, I am.. I’m so sorry I didn’t let you know! But I’m guessing you heard from Mina?

Deku

Yeah, I did

Uraraka

Good. Thanks for the concern, but I just need my parents’ support tonight.

Deku

I completely understand. I’m just glad you’re with your parents and safe.

Uraraka

Enough about me! How’d your day at the arcade go? Actually, tell me all about it when I get back! Have a good night, Deku!

Izuku smiled at her message, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. He sent a quick goodnight text in return, grateful that she was safe and with her parents for the night.

As soon as his conversation with Uraraka ended, Izuku received a message from Katsuki.

Kacchan

Hey nerd, I'm on my way over.

Izuku blinked, remembering they had planned a movie night. Katsuki had even agreed to let Izuku massage his arm again. He assumed he had a few minutes before Katsuki would arrive, but to his surprise, there was already a knock at the door.

No time to grab snacks or even set up his computer for the movie, Izuku rushed to the door, still unsure of what they’d be watching.

“How’d you get here so quick?” Izuku asked, opening the door, his surprise evident.

Katsuki, however, didn’t care about Izuku’s astonishment. His eyes were drawn to the headband pushing back Izuku’s unruly curls—a rare sight. Usually, Izuku’s long hair covered his forehead, but now Katsuki could see the new freckles scattered across his skin and his eyebrows fully for once. The look brought out Izuku’s features in a way Katsuki couldn’t help but admire.

“Uh... hello?” Izuku’s voice snapped Katsuki out of his thoughts.

“You look stupid with that headband,” Katsuki said, his usual bluntness returning.

“Jeez, thanks, Kacchan. Would you like to come in?” Izuku replied, rolling his eyes and gesturing for Katsuki to enter.

Sassy, Katsuki thought, rolling his eyes in return before stepping into Izuku’s room.

“I didn’t have time to grab any snacks or anything since you got here so fast,” Izuku said, closing the door behind them. But Katsuki, always prepared, had already thought ahead. He tossed a grocery bag full of snacks onto Izuku’s bed.

“Don’t worry, I brought some,” Katsuki replied.

They settled on Izuku’s bed, propping themselves up against the bed frame with pillows to cushion them. Izuku began scrolling through his laptop, searching for something to watch.

“Hey, what do you wanna watch?” Izuku asked.

“I don’t know. You’re the one who wanted this movie night, so you pick,” Katsuki shrugged. He was certain Izuku would pick another All Might movie and then talk through the whole thing. Usually, Katsuki didn’t mind and sometimes even joined the conversation, but tonight, he wanted something quieter.

“Actually, wait, I know,” Katsuki said, taking the laptop from Izuku’s lap and finding a movie himself.

He wasn’t sure if Izuku had seen it before—he wouldn’t be surprised if he had—but Katsuki decided on Princess Mononoke.

“Ah, Princess Mononoke! What a classic. I love this movie,” Izuku said, a warm smile spreading across his face as he was reminded of the times he’d watched it when he was younger.

Katsuki placed the laptop between them, half on his leg and half on Izuku’s, as the movie began to play.

About ten minutes into the movie, Izuku shuffled even closer to Katsuki, their shoulders now touching. Katsuki could feel Izuku's hands slither up his arm. Right, he'd agreed to let Izuku massage him—he'd allowed him to touch him.

The calmness of the room, combined with the comfort they found together on the bed, left Katsuki too relaxed to care about the sudden touch. Normally, he'd grumble about Izuku putting his hands on him without warning, but tonight he didn’t mind.

Izuku began to knead Katsuki's palm gently, his thumbs pressing in small circles, slowly working up toward his forearm. Despite the massage, Izuku's focus never wavered from the screen, multitasking effortlessly.

Katsuki hadn’t felt this at ease in a long time. The soft scent coming from Izuku seemed to soothe him. Every firm but gentle press on his arm helped calm him more. The entire mood of the room was serene, and Izuku... Izuku was the reason. Right now, he was like warm chicken soup to Katsuki’s weary heart.

By the time another twenty minutes had passed, Katsuki noticed the rhythm of Izuku’s hands had slowed, becoming less deliberate. Just as Katsuki opened his mouth to comment, Izuku’s hands fell limp. His head soon followed, resting softly against Katsuki's shoulder, green curls tickling his face.

Normally, Katsuki would’ve pushed his head away. That’s what the old him would’ve done. But now... now he didn’t mind. So, he let Izuku stay, watching the movie a little longer with the weight of him nestled against him.

After a while, Katsuki tore his attention from the screen to look at Izuku. His eyes were shut, his chest rising and falling steadily as he slept. The dim light from the laptop highlighted his lashes and freckles in perfect clarity. For the first time, Katsuki thought Beautiful.

Jirou’s words echoed in his mind Show him your love, Bakugo.

Katsuki hesitated for only a moment before planting a firm but gentle kiss on top of Izuku’s head. He carefully moved the arm that had been wedged between them, sliding it around Izuku’s shoulders and pulling him closer, resting his own head on top of Izuku’s.

Why hadn’t I done this sooner? Katsuki wondered. But then again, Izuku was asleep, blissfully unaware of what Katsuki had just done. That’s probably why it had felt so easy. Still, Katsuki felt good about it—really good.

But just as he settled into the moment, the ear pressed against Izuku’s head caught the sound of his heartbeat quickening. Is he having a dream? A nightmare? Katsuki’s thoughts raced. Wait... is he awake?

Izuku looked peaceful enough, but he could be faking it. Katsuki mumbled, “Are you awake?”

A soft murmur replied, “No.”

Dummy, Katsuki thought with a smirk. “Okay, good.”

At least Izuku didn’t make a big deal about the affection, and Katsuki was thankful for that. He wasn’t ready to be questioned.

As the movie continued, they remained in the same position, and eventually, Katsuki’s own eyes grew heavy. Resting his head atop Izuku’s, he finally drifted off to sleep, content with Izuku by his side.

Izuku was the first to wake, finding himself tightly wrapped in Katsuki's arms. The grip was a little firm, but that didn’t surprise him. Even in sleep, Katsuki had a way of holding on, always steadfast.

What did surprise him, however, was that they had spent the entire night like this—cuddling. Katsuki was actually cuddling him.

As the realization hit, Izuku froze. But honestly, he had no right to be so astonished because, well, he was cuddling back. One of his legs was draped over Katsuki's waist, his face buried in Katsuki’s chest, practically sprawled over him. And judging by how comfortably Katsuki held him, it seemed the blonde boy had no issue with the amount of personal space Izuku had invaded.

Izuku’s thoughts raced back to last night. He remembered everything—the way Katsuki had kissed him on the head and pulled him closer. It wasn’t a dream. He had been fully aware of it all.

Holy shit, Izuku's mind spiraled.

He knew how Katsuki could be when it came to affection, always expressing it in his own rough, indirect ways. But this? Holding him so close through the night? Izuku would’ve never guessed he’d do something like this—especially with him.

And it wasn’t just a mistake. Katsuki had meant it. There was a reason for all of it.

Izuku knew he would have to face the reality of the situation when Katsuki woke up. There was no way they could go through the day without addressing this. But for now, he didn’t want to take the moment for granted. He calmed himself, letting the warmth of Katsuki’s embrace soothe him.

As he waited for Katsuki to wake up in his own time, Izuku pressed his ear against Katsuki’s chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was the same comforting sound he had felt through his hand the other night.

“So soft…” Izuku mumbled, tapping his fingers gently on Katsuki’s chest to the beat of his heart.

With his eyes closed and a smile on his face, he let the sound wash over him like a familiar song, feeling a wave of relief and comfort.

“Glad you like my heart,” came a soft, gruff voice from above his head.

“Kacchan! You’re awake!” Izuku exclaimed, startled. He hadn’t expected Katsuki to wake up so soon.

I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to invade your privacy or anything. I just woke up like this, and, well, you’ve got a pretty firm grip on me, so I couldn’t exactly move. And to be honest... I’m pretty comfortable. But—uh—it doesn’t matter! I can get off if you want.”

“Shut up,” Katsuki groaned.

“Right.”

Izuku fell silent, realizing Katsuki wasn’t in the mood for conversation.

With that, Izuku came to the comforting conclusion that Katsuki didn’t mind him being so close. He relaxed, sinking back into Katsuki’s embrace, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest.

Katsuki hadn’t fallen back asleep. He was wide awake, feeling the gentle taps on his chest as Izuku listened to his heartbeat. There was no way he was going to let himself miss this moment.

So, pretending to be asleep, Katsuki shut his eyes, feeling an unexpected sense of peace with Izuku in his arms. It was surprisingly comfortable.

Katsuki had never really snuggled anyone before—or let anyone snuggle him back (except his clingy mom). His usually aggressive nature tended to push people away. But lately, he had started to adjust to the small touches, reassuring pats, and occasional hugs from his classmates. He was realizing that, sometimes, all he really needed was a good hug. And right now, he was getting the best one from none other than Izuku.

God, I’m soft, Katsuki thought, half-amused, half-annoyed at himself.

But he knew he couldn’t pretend forever. Eventually, he’d have to face reality—and likely face Izuku’s inevitable questions. This definitely wasn’t casual for them. Nothing between them ever was.

“Morning,” Katsuki muttered, finally announcing he was awake.

“Morning, Kacchan,” Izuku responded cheerfully.

“Did you, uh… sleep well?” Katsuki asked, already regretting his question.

“Slept wonderfully,” Izuku replied with a small wink.

Lord, help me, Katsuki groaned internally.

“Shut up,” he mumbled, rolling his eyes.

Now the air between them hung with the weight of unspoken thoughts. Someone had to address the elephant in the room—but who was going to do it?

Izuku broke the silence first, his voice hesitant. “So, I can’t pretend not to notice what’s going on right now, so I’m just going to ask…”

He trailed off for a moment before continuing, “Do you have a reason for being so—”

“Soft? Sappy?” Katsuki cut in, his tone blunt.

“I was going to say… nice,” Izuku corrected, blinking at him.

“Oh.”

Being nice wasn’t exactly Katsuki’s strong suit, but this wasn’t just about being nice. It was about being honest—really honest about his feelings. He’d done it once before. But as he gathered the courage to speak up, the words wouldn’t come. Instead, he remained silent.

Izuku, patient as always, waited. But as the silence stretched on, he started to feel uneasy. Maybe Katsuki was uncomfortable with all of this. Maybe he hadn’t been okay with it from the start, and this was just another misunderstanding.

It was nice while it lasted, Izuku thought, feeling a pang in his chest.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t be so pushy,” Izuku mumbled, starting to move away. He began to push himself off Katsuki, maneuvering carefully to avoid any awkwardness.

Say something, damn it!

As Izuku placed one knee on the edge of the bed and was about to put his foot down, a firm hand gripped his wrist.

“Dammit, just hear me out for a minute,” Katsuki snapped, his voice rough, but not angry.

Izuku’s eyes widened in surprise, freezing in place. Katsuki shifted, giving him more space to sit on the edge of the bed. Izuku complied, sitting down, keeping his eyes on Katsuki, even though Katsuki’s head was still lowered.

“Okay,” Izuku said quietly. “I’m listening.”

Katsuki took a deep breath, mentally bracing himself. Then, he finally raised his head and looked at Izuku.

“I’ve tried to keep you at arm’s length, Izuku,” Katsuki began, his voice strained but steady. “Ever since you left UA that day, I realized how attached I am to you. Despite everything—the way I act—I still want to chase after you. Like we’re kids playing tag, and I can’t stop.”

Izuku stayed silent, his attention fully on Katsuki. He could tell there was more.

“I know it sounds ridiculous,” Katsuki continued, struggling to maintain his composure. “Childish, even. But that’s how I feel.”

“It’s not ridiculous,” Izuku said softly, locking eyes with Katsuki, his gaze gentle.

Katsuki looked back at him, surprised by the softness in Izuku’s expression.

“I feel the same, Kacchan,” Izuku admitted, his voice quiet, but clear. “I’ve always felt that way, ever since we were kids”

There was a pause, and Izuku hesitated before continuing. His heart raced, and uncertainty crept into his voice. Now or never.

“I’ve felt a lot of things since we were kids.”

Izuku took a deep breath, in and out, steadying himself. It was Katsuki’s turn to hear him out now.

“Kacchan I love you,” he said, with no fear, no hesitation. He meant it with his whole heart, just like he always had.

But that confidence vanished almost immediately, replaced by sheer panic as he turned into a flustered mess.

WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST SAY?! DID I ACTUALLY SAY THAT OUT LOUD?! Izuku’s mind raced as his face burned with embarrassment.

He began sputtering out a string of incoherent words, none of which reached Katsuki’s ears. Katsuki just sat there, a mix of disbelief, amusement, and a tinge of annoyance flickering across his face as he tried to process what had just happened.

Suddenly, Izuku fell silent as Katsuki reached out and grabbed his hand.

“So unfair,” Katsuki muttered, a rare, genuine smile tugging at his lips. “I was supposed to say ‘I love you’ first.”

That smile—it eased Izuku immediately. Katsuki’s smile wasn’t something everyone got to see, and Izuku felt unbelievably lucky in that moment. A smile of his own began to grow on his face.

“I guess that means I win, then,” Izuku teased lightly.

“What do you mean win? This wasn’t a competition!” Katsuki shot back, his annoyance only half-serious.

“You sure, Kacchan?”

“Love isn’t some damn competition, Izuku!”

Izuku chuckled, a soft warmth in his chest. “Well, with you, I have a feeling it’s going to be.”

A moment of silence passed before Izuku spoke again, his voice teasing.

“So, you’re just gonna let me win that easily?”

“What?” Katsuki raised an eyebrow.

“I said it first. I win. I told you I loved you.”

Katsuki finally caught on, realizing what Izuku was hinting at. Of course, it was Katsuki’s turn now—but there was no way he’d just hand over the victory. Not without a fight. This was Katsuki Bakugo, after all. Even if he said it wasn’t a competition, it was going to be one.

A mischievous grin spread across Katsuki’s face. Slowly, he slid his hands into Izuku’s, interlocking their fingers as he inched closer, his face just inches from Izuku’s.

“Izuku,” Katsuki said, locking eyes with him, his voice low and deliberate, “I love you.”

The intensity of the moment, combined with the heart-throbbing look on Katsuki’s face, made Izuku’s face turn bright red. He tried his best to hold back his laughter, but the sight of Katsuki—so serious, yet affectionate—was too much for him.

Izuku’s resolve crumbled as he burst into laughter, his grip on Katsuki’s hands tightening as giggles escaped him uncontrollably.

“Okay, okay, you win!” Izuku gasped between laughs, struggling to catch his breath.

“Damn right I do,” Katsuki said with a smirk, clearly pleased with himself as he watched Izuku’s reaction, his fondness obvious.

The morning drifted on lazily. Neither of them felt the urge to move, so they stayed in bed, watching two more movies and deciding that being lazy for the rest of the day wasn’t such a bad idea after all.