Chapter Text
"Do y'all have a nickname that would like, make you fall in love instantly?"
As Izuku raised his deep green eyes towards Ochako's face, he knew that it was another of his bestie's questions to escape the actual homework they had to do for their chemical engineering class. But can you blame her?
"Come on Ochako, we have to focus on this paper. You can ask us when it will be finished."
Serious as ever, Tenya sent a fake reproaching look to the brown-haired girl. Fake because he could never be truly angry at Ochako, reproaching because he did want this work to be over with. As strict and academic as he was, he too was sometimes fed up with engineering exercises and management theories. Which was kind of reassuring, he was still human after all...
"Oh come on, we've been studying for like, three hours straight..." Ochako sighed, letting her head fall on her crossed arms on the table. "We already know we'll have one of the best marks of the class so why pushing it so far..."
"We can't afford to be late!"
"...the paper's due in two weeks. And we've already done most of it. Two weeks, Tenya."
"Better early than late."
"Oh my gosh." The Ochako sighed again before turning a desperate look to the two other boys. "You two tell him something before I lose my mind, I'm begging you."
Izuku sent an amused smile to Shoto sitting next to him, his friend showing his usual expressionless face while looking at his two friends sitting in front of him. But Izuku could see the glint of amusement dancing in his heterochromatic pupils. After all, Shoto was easy to read for someone who knew him well like Izuku.
"I think Ochako is right, we did most of it, we just need to write everything down. We can at least take a break. Izuku?"
"Same thing." Izuku answered, sending an apologetic smile to Tenya. "My brain's gonna burn if we continue like this. And we have plenty of time left."
Seeing that he was losing this battle, Tenya sighed while raising his glasses on top of his head, his expression probably torn between annoyance and relief.
"As you which..."
Ochako suddenly found her strength back as she showed a big smile and straightened herself on her chair. "Yay! Finally, so now we can have a girl talk."
"But we're not girls..."
"I know Shoto, it's just a saying..."
"I'm sure every boy has a hidden girl side inside of them anyway."
"Facts Izuku."
Izuku chuckled lightly upon seeing his best friend being so enthusiastic. The four of them had been sitting in a café for at least three hours and were working on a common project for their university. They weren't all in the same course but had some options in common, which was great because they were able to work together (Izuku still wasn't sure if Ochako loved working with them because they were her only friends or because the three boys were all majoring in their courses).
Izuku really loved spending time with his friends. They knew each other since high school and stayed together since then, the four of them being extraordinarily lame at what people call "socializing". Izuku was a babbling and rambling mess when he talked about something he loved, Ochako was constantly socially awkward and internally panicking at any social contact, Shoto was just emotionally unable to express himself in a socially acceptable way and Tenya was too academic and rules focused to try to interact with other human for anything else than talking about classes and teachers.
So here they were, four socially awkward students, becoming besties and hanging out together while drinking latte and talking about girl problems.
As socially unable as they were, they still were the persons which Izuku felt the most comfortable with. He knew he would never be judged for his antics or mocked at, which was very common for him back in middle school, and he was still sometimes held back by those dark memories hunting his mind. But with Ochako, Shoto and Tenya, he could talk about his love for comics and mangas without feeling lame or weird or too nerdy because he knew his friends would actually listen to him and be interested.
And in return, he would calmly listen to Ochako complain for hours about her money or girl problems, he would reassure Shoto and give him the affection he needed when his family issues became too hard to bear and listen to Tenya ramble about some new engineering articles he found and read all night long. That was how they worked as a group and he was so, so grateful for that. He would never give away what they have, not for anything in the world.
"So what was your question again?" Asked Tenya while putting back his glasses in front of his deep blue eyes. "About your... girl talk?"
"Well yeah, that was a very important thing I wanted to ask you guys. Do you have a nickname that you like?"
"What do you mean a nickname..." Izuku asked, tilting his head on the side. "Like... a petname?"
"Yeah could be a petname, but a nickname can sometimes be more meaningful and personal..."
"Like the way Izuku calls me Sho?"
Izuku's eyes shone with utterly gentleness when he turned his sincere smile toward the bicolore-headed. Sometimes Shoto's tender naivety was really touching.
"Yeah, I think it's a great exemple..."
"I like that nickname." Shoto said, a small smile on his lips.
"That's a really beautiful example of bromance you gave us here, but I was talking about a more romantic kind of way..." Ochako rolled her eyes, but the amused smile on her face was truly gentle.
"You can give nicknames to your friends too Ochako!"
"True but I wanna talk in a more gay way-"
"Please don't phrase it like that..." Tenya sighed.
"Why would you want to talk about that specific topic anyway?" Asked Izuku with an amused smile as he took a sip of his latte.
"Great question you have here Izuku." Ochako answered, winking at his best friend. "To be honest it comes from a very recent experience I had. Last night my girlfriend called me honey and I swear I cried."
"Well mine call me shitty nerd and I think it's kinda hot."
His three friends probably should've been distraught or surprised that Izuku was more than okay to be called "shitty nerd" by his very boyfriend, but they were used to this after years and years of witnessing the very weird way Izuku and his boyfriend were displaying affection. So yeah, Izuku being called shitty nerd was already heard of and accepted. Which could be even weirder, in some ways...
"Already heard of that, but it's still insane." Said Ochako with a malicious smile. "Do you have some masochistic tendencies bestie?"
"Please do not ask about my tendencies you don't want to know how insane they can be."
"How is Bakugo surviving you?"
"By having some tendencies of his own..."
Well, to be honest, Katsuki and Izuku knew from the start that they had some issues of their own before becoming boyfriends. After all, they knew each other from kindergarten, and even if their relationship took a very bad turn in their middle school years, they were able to create new bonds and relations during their high school years. It wasn't easy, and it still wasn't easy during the bad days, but what can Izuku do about it? He was in love, so fucking in love with his blond and loud and scary (for the others) boyfriend, so that was enough for him to stay and try.
He knew better than anyone how much Katsuki tried and was still trying to change for the better, and even if his anger issues and insecurities were still strong, they weren't as bad as they used to be. He was calmer, less aggressive and more patient than he was before, and that came from a huge amount of improvement on his self-esteem. Thanks to Izuku who was very patient and devoted to him, sure, but also because he too found people who accepted him the way he was, with his loud voice, insulting tendencies and inferiority feeling hidden by a superiority complex.
To be fair, Izuku wasn't the only one being patient in the relationship. Katsuki often had to go through Izuku's panic attacks and anxiety as a child and teenager, and even if he wasn't the best at demonstrative love, he was there and he knew Izuku better than anyone.
After all, they were inseparable (dammit).
"Look at him, thinking about his doggy boyfriend once again."
Izuku stopped daydreaming about his boyfriend (a very unpleasant habit he had when anyone was mentioning Katsuki) and turned a frowning face to a giggling Ochako.
"Don't call my boyfriend a dog please?"
"Well, he kinda is."
"Facts."
"Tenya?? Shoto??"
"True, the only thing he does is barking or groaning." The brown-haired girl chuckled upon seeing Izuku's outraged air. "And he's very, veeery loyal to his master..."
Izuku felt his cheeks heating as he rolled his eyes. "Oh my god... I pray for you that he never ever in his life hears you say this..."
"And he seems to like biting you as well." Said Shoto without being able to suppress his smile.
Well, Izuku wasn't blushing anymore, he was probably a burning inferno now. And he felt more than he saw the amused smiles on his friends face when he looked down at his cup to hide his shame, trying desperately to raise his sweatshirt on his exposed neck.
Damned Kacchan and his biting antics...
"Did Bakugo just eat your neck?"
"Kinda rough when your girlfriend literally sucks your blood out."
Maybe it was mean, but it was still very entertaining and satisfying to see Ochako choke on air after hearing Izuku's phrase.
"That one actually hurt-"
"Are you aware that hickeys are very dangerous for your body Ochako?? They can create blood accumulation in a specific part of your nervous system-"
"Yeah yeah thanks Tenya..."
"What's a hickey?"
The three turned their now surprised faces to a very oblivious Shoto Todoroki who was looking at them with his usual inexpressive face.
Oh the poor child.
Ochako signed desperately. "I feel like I failed your education..."
"Just like my father."
"Shoto oh my god-"
"A hickey is a mark your boyfriend or girlfriend or... whatever, gives you on your body, usually the neck." Izuku said as he showed his own neck (because yeah, he didn't have only bite marks, but his hickeys weren't as visible as Ochako's). "Your partner usually sucks the skin to leave a visible mark on your skin."
"But why would you do that?"
"Very good question." Tenya answered, his face clearly saying that he wasn't so happy to see two of his best friends with so many marks on their necks, even if Izuku's were actually discret. "I wouldn't understand either."
"That's because the only thing you ever were in a relationship with was your math book."
"Wow- Ochako no one insulted Himiko here, calm down." Izuku chuckled slightly. "You know we all love her, even if she's... we'll, she does have a weird obsession with your blood."
Ochako glared at her best friend. "Well you have a weird obsession for a screaming blond dog and I say nothing."
"Facts."
"Stop calling Kacchan a dog, and you Shoto stop saying "facts" so often."
"Ochako said I should say that everytime she speaks."
"Well Ochako lies as often as she breathes."
The brown-haired girl stuck her tongue at Izuku while Izuku mirrored her under Tenya's unamused air. When they weren't studying, Tenya would sometimes forget that he was hanging out with grown ass students, feeling like he was actually leading a kindergarten class... (and there were only three of them).
"I still don't really understand why would people suck other people's skin... or blood." Shoto said again, cutting the (fake) glaring contest between Izuku and Ochako.
"To claim ownership, most of the time."
"Not Tenya calling us owned puppets..." Izuku snickered before turning to Shoto with a mischievous smile. "Anyway I'm sure Sero would love doing one to you. Don't you agree Sho?"
"Why would he do that?"
"...because he's been flirting with you for the past three months?"
And Izuku would find Shoto's expression comically out of character if he wasn't so baffled by his obliviousness.
"...was he?"
"Oh my gosh Shoto." Ochako sighed again, torn between profound worry and utter astonishment. "You have to be a little more focused on human expressions, it's getting a little concerning here..."
"I am focused on humans, I just don't understand them."
"Mood."
Izuku nodded upon hearing Tenya's answer. People had too many expectations sometimes, it was getting tiring to try and understand every hidden meaning in conversations. Another thing he loved about Kacchan was that he was always saying what he was thinking, and so it helped Izuku a lot because of his overthinking tendencies.
"Anyway, can we actually come back to the original topic that was your fav nicknames please? I never got my answer."
"Yes you did-"
"Shitty nerd is not accepted here."
"You're just jealous of our true love."
"If true love is constantly bickering and being at each other throats, not metaphorically, then sorry darling but I really don't want to experience it..."
"I think I would like "honey" too." Shoto suddenly answered. Ochako couldn't help but look at him with fond eyes, cooing at the bicolore-headed boy.
"That's so sweet Shoto..."
"It truly is." Izuku smiled softly. "Honey would suit you, I think. Or baby."
"Ew, I hate that one... What about you Tenya?"
"I would never for the life of me answer this question."
"You're not funny..." Ochako smirked, leaning close to her friend with glasses. "I'm sure you like sweet stuff too... Like sweetheart."
"Or babe." Izuku snickered upon seeing Tenya's disgusted face.
"Or kitten."
"Oh wow kitten's a smart one Sho-"
"How about we stop this conversation before it gets even worse..." Tenya sighed slightly while pushing Ochako's face away. "Anyway, wasn't Bakugo supposed to come and get you Izuku?"
"Don't try to change the subject." At the mention of his boyfriend, a happy smile immediately appeared on Izuku's face. "But yeah, he's coming. Had to hit the gym first to get his stuff though... So I guess he'll come in a few minutes now."
"How lucky of you to have a boyfriend with a car... Screw that, how lucky of you to have a rich boyfriend." Ochako took a sip of her drink, glaring holes into Izuku in front of her. "Life must be so much easier... If you weren't my best friend I would be crazy jealous."
"You are crazy jealous."
"Beware, I know where you live."
"But we all know where he lives..." Shoto said with a frown.
Ochako sighed desperately, Izuku and Tenya now shaking with laughter. "I swear you need to work on you sarcastic understanding babe..."
"Oh that was sarcasm, my bad. I'm trying you know."
"We know Sho, we know." Izuku chuckled, wiping a few tears of laughter. "But anyway back on the money topic, you know I'm practically living on my scholarship Ochako, so yeah, it's easier for me if he pays a little more for the apartment and stuff. But other than that nothing changes that much..."
"You're still so freaking lucky... why isn't my girlfriend crazy rich too??"
"Because a lot of her money goes to her medical care."
Once again three stunned faces turned to Shoto who said one of the biggest thing ever without even looking apologetic.
The three of them knew very well that Himiko had to go through a lot of medical tests and appointments, but thanks to her friends and Ochako's group she was still able to have a normal student life on the side. Ochako was very devoted to helping her and never actually complained about it, even when Himiko could sometimes have violent crises in the middle of the night. She was as committed to this relationship as she was determined to make her girlfriend feel comfortable with herself. And Himiko was very grateful for that.
Knowing that Shoto meant no harm reminding them that, Ochako didn't take it personally. But the smile she showed was much less sincere and joyful than it was seconds earlier.
"Thanks Shoto for making me feel like I'm the worst girlfriend ever..."
"No actually I think it's very beautiful how you take care of her. She's very lucky to have you, and I do think you two are very brave to be able to go through that situation."
The sincere and kind smile that showed on Shoto's face was enough for Ochako to forget everything about being upset. A gentle smile slip past her lips and she took Shoto's hand in her, squeezing it lightly.
"Thanks Shoto."
Izuku smiled softly after seeing this interaction. He knew very well that sometimes Shoto's blunt expressions and words could be wrongly interpreted, even for his closest friends, but he was making huge efforts in trying to make himself understand better. Communication wasn't something easy for him, as well as in the entire Todoroki family, but he knew his friend was sincere about wanting to improve himself. And it was very touching.
"How's Himiko by the way?" Gently asked Izuku as Ochako was letting go of Shoto's hand.
"She's getting better. She actually really wanted to come here today and see you three but she couldn't because she had some rehearsal to make with Shigaraki and the band."
"That's sad, I wanted to see her." Izuku pouted slightly. "But I know how Shiggy can get if one of them skip repetition, so I understand she didn't ditch them."
"Yeah, Touya actually did ditch them once to hang out with Keigo and he was expelled from the band for a whole month." Shoto stated. "He never tried again."
"By the way, what petname do you think Shigaraki would like?"
"Ochako, I really want to think about anything else but that..." Groaned Tenya.
"I do agree with that..."
"Of course you agree Izuku, I'm sure you prefer to think about your angry pomeranian boyfriend."
"Oh my god Kacchan's not a fucking dog-"
"Who’s calling me a dog?"
To be honest, Izuku's reaction was kind of embarrassing. The shiver he felt upon hearing this voice shouldn't be this strong.
But it was.
When he raised his face to the new voice suddenly cutting their conversation, all he could see was two bright red pupils looking at him with what seemed to be a glint of amusement. Then, he saw blond hair around a sharp face, strong features and golden locks dancing around a calm expression. Rubis eyes were looking directly at him, studying his face with some touching concentration and diving into his own forest green irises.
Fuck. Katsuki was as mesmerizing as always.
As his gaze slightly looked away from these two hypnotic red eyes, Izuku noticed that the blond in front of him was only wearing a tight black short-sleeved t-shirt, sticking to his hard torso and leaving his muscular arms for all to see. It was one of those damned compressed shirts he used for the gym, coupled with his hair slightly wet probably from the shower he took and his serious air, it was almost too much to bear for Izuku's sanity.
Fuck. Katsuki was as hot as always.
The blond probably saw the hungry gaze he shamelessly lingered on his boyfriend's body, and so his calm expression rapidly changed into a proud smirk.
Izuku was too fucking easy to read.
"Hey shitty nerd."
"Hey Kacchan-"
"There it is!" Ochako suddenly shouted, breaking the intense exchange between the two boys and helping Izuku gain sime self-control. "The infamous "shitty nerd" has appeared! How romantic."
"The fuck does that mean?" Bakugo answered, getting closer to Izuku and letting his hand wander into his green locks, his glare hard on Ochako. "And I very clearly heard you call me a fucking dog. Care to tell me what triggered this beautiful comparison?"
"Well, to be honest you do look like a pomeranian Bakugo."
"Shut the fuck up half and half, at least I look like something convenient, not like you and your stupid face!"
"Kacchan." Izuku raised his gentle eyes towards Katsuki, silently asking him not to shout too much and disturb the other customers. "Don't be rude."
"Hey, they're the ones who started it with their stupid comparison."
"You're right. Poor porpernian, he doesn't deserve that."
Bakugo sent another terrible glare to Ochako who quickly hid behind her cup. As funny as it was to tease Katsuki, she knew better than to trigger the shouting machine in a public area.
Katsuki rolled his eyes before lowering his gaze to Izuku, his hand sliding to the back of his nape, his eyes immediately taking a gentler glint.
"Anyway, don't care about those extras. Good day?"
"Hm hm..." Izuku answered with a smile, muscles relaxing with Katsuki’s hand on his neck, the other three resuming they (very interesting) discussion about what breed of dog would look like Shoto. "Tiring but good. Only had classes this morning so this afternoon was a studying session. How about you?"
"Could be better. Another fucking boring day with too much noises and too much bullshit. Management classes are the worst. Gym did me good though, let out some steam."
"Okay..." Izuku whispered before letting his hand slide around Bakugo's waist. "C'mere for a sec."
Bakugo smirked slightly before lowering his head and getting close to Izuku's face. The green-haired didn't wait before moving forward to put his lips in a tender and chaste kiss on Katsuki's own lips, tasting him after a long day without seeing each other. The kiss didn't linger long, but it was enough for Izuku to feel a satisfying shiver running down his spine.
Katsuki's lips were the most delicious thing he's ever tasted.
When the short kiss broke, Katsuki stayed close to Izuku's face, red eyes glittering with an emotion way too pure and beautiful for Izuku to ignore it.
"Fuck, you're pretty."
"Could say the same." Izuku murmured, his hand still on Katsuki's hip. "Do we need to go to the grocery store for tonight?"
"Don't need. Already went shopping."
"You're perfect."
"I know."
Izuku giggled slightly before kissing his boyfriend again, still chast and short but not without transmitting all the emotions he was feeling.
"Aww, look at them being a cute little couple..."
Katsuki groaned as he backed away, his hand still on Izuku's nape as his own hand slid off the blond's waist. He shot another glare at Ochako while Izuku chuckled slightly. He kind of loved the relationship between his boyfriend and his best friend, they were really funny everytime they interacted.
"Shut up round face."
"Guys I think we found king of nicknames right here!"
"That's true, Bakugo does use a lot of nicknames." Tenya stated while drinking his espresso.
"That's probably because he has a terrible memory." Shoto stated with a straight face, angering Bakugo even more.
"Shut up half and half my memory's great. It's just because y'all have too many names."
"King of nicknames it is for you then!" Ochako giggled.
"Sorry Ochako but he actually prefers Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight."
Ochako howled with laughter as Tenya was now frowning doubtfully. "Wow that's some nickname..."
"Shut up shitty nerd I was in kindergarten when I said that!"
"Still relevant for me."
All of them couldn't help but laugh at Katsuki's sudden angry expression, but Izuku quickly lost his smile when he felt the hand on his nape straightening its grip, and a shiver of pure terror run down his body when he raised his head to see Katsuki's very scary smile.
"Don't try to fool me out when I have your neck in my hand, 'zuku."
"W-Wait Kacchan-"
"Wow why is it that Katsuki is choking his boyfriend right now?"
"Didn't know you had that kind of kink Kats'."
Izuku sighed of relief both because the hand around his neck stopped squeezing the life out of him and because seeing Kirishima and Denki huge smiles were always brightening his day.
"The fuck you're doing here?" Katsuki asked with a mean look, glaring at the four persons that were now walking to their table.
"We told you to wait for us but you were just too eager to see your lovely boyfriend." Mina chuckled while coming closer to the table. "Hey there guys!! It's been a while!"
"Oh my gosh the popular gang."
"Oh my gosh the nerdy nerds gang." Denki answered, sending a smile to Ochako. "And we're not that popular y'know? That would be too cliche, the bad boy with the nerd."
"Stop talking you're wasting oxygen."
"Wow, now that was rude Katsuki." Kirishima chuckled. "Since when are we known as the popular gang anyway?"
"I've no idea, maybe it's because you're all fine as hell." Ochako winked, giggling as Mina was now smiling brightly. "Also your gang's hair is as flashy and unmistakable as your leader's voice."
Denki gasped, hand on his heart with a fake outraged air. "How mean of you to talk about our haircuts when you literally have Shoto as your friend."
"Is there any problem with my hair?" Shoto asked while frowning.
"Not at all," Sero answered with a gentle smile. "Denki's just jealous of your beauty honey."
Oh.
Izuku couldn't help but widen his eyes upon hearing the petname Sero chose to adress his friend. Turning his head to Ochako, Izuku clearly saw the way she was holding back from absolutely losing her mind. And he didn’t need to turn his head to know that Shoto was probably in the process of completely short-circuiting after hearing Sero saying the one nickname he said he liked.
Good one Sero. Good one.
"I- hum..." Shoto cleared his throat before turning his bicolored pupils away. "Thanks Sero."
"You're welcome Roki!"
"Cut this crap, I don't have time for your stupid flirting games." Katsuki rolled his eyes, crossing his arms on his chest. "I told you not to come, I just came here to take Izuku back home."
"Yes yes we very well know that, but!" Denki sent a fake apologetic smile to Katsuki before sharply turning his face to Izuku. "I have a very important question to ask your pretty boyfriend!"
Katsuki frowned after hearing that but Izuku just flashed a smile to Kamimari, not caring at all that he was now a little too close to his face.
"No problem Denki. But how about you guys take a seat with us instead of standing like that?"
"Aren't those sofas made for only two people though?" Kirishima asked.
"We can always make room for more people," Tenya answered. "If we were able to sleep five in a two-seater tent during a camping trip we can totally make you fit on this couch."
"Grear, thanks guys!"
Well, Izuku actually should've told Denki that Katsuki probably wanted to sit next to him, but Denki was too fast and too enthusiastic and his grin was too bright for Izuku to make a comment.
He sent an apologetic smile to his boyfriend, and if it wasn't for Kirishima who pulled him to sit in front of Izuku, he probably would've exploded. Sero just stole a chair and put it on the table's end while heavily looking at Shoto, and Mina sat close to Denki to start an excited discussion with Ochako.
Knowing that Katsuki was probably on his last straw (Izuku could clearly see that he wanted nothing but going home right now), he quickly turned to Denki.
"So? What did you want to ask me?"
"Oh yeah yeah- well hum, a little birdie told me that you're doing martial arts, is that right?"
Izuku couldn't help but feel slightly surprised, tilting his head to the side. "Hum... yeah? Twice a week with Aizawa, tonight and Wednesday night. How d'you know that?"
"I told them." Katsuki answered, still glowering at Denki. "That idiot has a sudden interest in your martial art class..."
"Oh? Do you want to take class with mister Aizawa?? That would be so cool! You have to know though that he's very strict and honestly if he doesn't like the way you act or talk about martial arts he might as well expell you, but he's a very good teacher and can be very kind sometimes also he helped me a lot to perfect my technique-"
"Yes yes thank you Mido- we know you love your teacher and your class!"
Even if Denki's laugh was amused and joyful, Izuku couldn't help but feel bashful and show a tense smile. He was aware that he was a rambling mess when he talked about something he loved, and he also knew very well that Bakugo's group was understanding and kind enough to not care about it, yet he couldn't help but feel a little ashamed about his dumb habit.
However, Izuku flinched a little when he felt a foot hit his own under the table. Big green eyes turned away from Denki's brightness to lock themselves into two red pearls looking at him with that usual grumpy glint.
"Tonight you'll tell me what you learned in your last class if you want, shitty nerd."
And then, his genuine smile was back.
"Thanks Kacchan."
"Whatever..."
Katsuki was always like that, observant enough to see and notice every time Izuku was breaking his usual kind smile because of his overthinking. Or maybe Katsuki just knew him so well that he could detect whenever he needed reassurance. In any case, Izuku found this caring part of his boyfriend profoundly kind and adorable…
He shall never say that out loud though, if he wanted to stay alive.
"So," Izuku turned back to Denki. "Where does your sudden interest in martial arts' coming from?"
"Well- haha, you might find it funny but-"
Sero didn’t let him finish, turning his eyes away from Shoto to smirk at Izuku. "Denki's having a big big biiig crush on your friend from your class."
"Really??" Izuku widened his eyes, watching Denki's face planting against the table.
"Omg y'all are finally talking about something interesting."
"Ochako your love for love gossip is actually concerning." Tenya sighed.
"I need to know what others are doing in their life so I can make mine more exciting."
"Do what you want but please don't take Denki as an example..." Mina giggled slightly. "One desperate hyperactive child is enough."
"Excuse you how am I desperate??"
"You're literally about to ask Mido to tell Shinsou about you."
Hearing this, Izuku suddenly widened eyes and turned a surprised face to his friend. "Shinsou? Like... Hitoshi Shinsou??"
"Do you have any other obnoxiously hot guy in your martial arts class??" Denki asked vividly.
"Well, personally I would say Izuku's obviously the hottest guy in his class."
Izuku felt himself blush slightly when he heard that, turning his face to see a little smirk on Katsuki's lips, amused and teasing.
"For once I agree with you Bakugo." Said Ochako before turning to Denki. "But seriously... for any guy you could've hit on you chose Hitoshi Shinsou? Unexpressive, mean, boring Shinsou?"
"Guess I'm that desperate after all..."
"And not everyone has a type for bloodsuckers." Bakugo stated, Ochako immediately glaring back at him.
"Izuku definitely does seeing how you shamelessly ate his neck." Ochako snapped back.
"At least I'm not mental."
"Sorry princess I only love girls who might stab me-"
"Ochako!!" Denki shouted, his face stressed and behavior electric. "You and Kats really should stop fighting about your boyfriend and girlfriend when I'm desperately trying to erase my celibacy here!"
Ochako and Katsuki both rolled their eyes in sync, which didn't fail to make Izuku giggle. As much as they were bickering, they were pretty similar on a lot of aspects.
"So Mido," Denki turned back to Izuku, his face so close that the green-haired boy had to move away against the couch. "Would you talk to Shinso about me?? That would be super duper cool from you!"
"Sure but- what should I say?"
"Well, I didn't think that far..." Denki frowned. "I don't know- I guess just tell him my name and if he knows me then tell him I kinda wanna know him better, and if he doesn't know me I might just throw myself out the window-"
"Hey. Back off dunce face. You're too close."
Denki stopped himself in his babbling to turn his gaze to Katsuki. His amused smile was gone and replaced by a thin line, demeanor stiff and red eyes glowering at him. Denki felt a cold shiver running down his spine before turning his head back to Izuku, noticing that he was, in fact, really close to him. Izuku was still smiling at him, but he was less confident, almost embarrassed maybe, so Denki didn't think twice before moving back, sitting straight on the sofa again. He sometimes forgot that Katsuki told them his boyfriend wasn't very comfortable when there was a lot of stimulation and people around him, and he really didn't want to overwhelm Izuku (knowing that he was probably too kind to tell Denki to shut up). The last thing he wanted was to bother him...
...both because he was really really nice, and because he could use some of his help for his "Shinsou situation".
"Sorry Mido, didn't want to make you uncomfortable here..." Denki awkwardly chuckled, but Izuku kind smile calmed his rising anxiety. "Also don't worry Kacchan I already have my eyes on a very handsome cold-hearted wattpad-type purple-haired dude."
Hearing Denki call his boyfriend Kacchan shouldn't be so irritating. But it was.
Yet Denki was a sweetheart, so he forgave him. He was just, sometimes, a little too hyperactive for his Izuku's anxiety.
"You know..." Shoto turned his calm face towards Denki. "I know you want him to notice you but wouldn't it be better if you were the one going to him? Like, meeting him by yourself?"
"Just look at me!" Denki answered, almost throwing himself on the table. "I'm so different from him, he'll probably just look down on me and ask me to push myself to the side..."
"That would actually be like him..." Izuku whispered.
"But Roki's right, when you want someone to notice you you have to go after them." Sero said, eyeing Shoto before turning back to Denki. "For you it won't be the same though, Shinso's soo gonna ignore you."
"Thanks Sero for being so supportive I love having you as my bestie."
"Always here to watch your plans crumble buddy."
"Nice-"
"Anyway!" Katsuki's sudden shout as he rose and clapped his hands against the table made everyone startle. Ah, he reached his limit. "I'm tired of hearing everyone's shit, I came here to take 'zuku home, not listen to y'all bullshit. Now come Izuku, we don't have time to deal with those extras."
"You're going hard on us..." Kirishima chuckled when Katsuki pushed past him to go to his boyfriend. "Denki just wanted some help and advice for his empty love life."
"Empty??"
"And I'm no fucking cupid." Katsuki answered his bestfriend, ignoring Denki's outraged expression. "Neither is Izuku by the way. Come here shitty nerd, we're leaving."
"Well people, I think it's time for me to go." Izuku gave an apologetic smile to his friends, rising from the couch to meet his boyfriend. "Don't want Kacchan to burn down the entire café."
"How could he burn down the café?"
"It's a saying, Shoto." Tenya answered.
As Izuku was coming close to Katsuki, the blond took his chance and immediately passed an arm around his boyfriend’s waist to feel him closer. Seeing this, Ochako couldn’t help but call him out, smirking and eyes sparkling with malice "Wait wait Bakugo! Tell us what's your fav nickname before leaving!"
"Huh? Why?"
"For a very interesting study of mine. And my personal interest."
"Well it's obvious. "Kacchan" of course."
"Oh my god..." Izuku blushed, seeing his friends smiling widely upon hearing that. Kacchan really had no shame at all sometimes...
"He's the biggest simp ever!" Ochako cried in joy.
"That's gay."
"I am gay half and half."
Mina snickered. "Smartest thing he said since he entered this café."
"Well- hum- thanks everyone but now I really think we should go, have a good afternoon and bye bye!"
And as he was bravely escaping from this terribly shameful atmosphere, pulling Katsuki by the arm to get out of the establishment as quickly as he could, of course Ochako couldn't help but accentuate his misery.
"Bye bye, shitty nerd and Kacchan!"
Really, he adored his friends, but sometimes they were too much.