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“Don't wander off from the group. I promise we'll have time to see everything,” the teacher assured the group as they gathered in the front room. “And make sure you stay with your buddy.”
The class had been looking forward to this field trip since the school year began and the day finally arrived. They had already been lectured about being on their best behavior. Each student had an assigned “buddy” to make sure they didn't stray or get lost in the large building. The teacher, along with parents volunteers, were there to chaperone, but it could be difficult looking after an entire class of kindergarteners.
“Wow, there's got to be a gazillion fishies in here!” Izuku's wide eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light from the tanks.
“There's no way there could be a gazillion,” Katsuki rolled his eyes. He held onto Izuku's hand tightly so they couldn't get separated.
“Well, there's still a lot,” Izuku responded, unaffected by his friend's tone. “Too many to even count!”
“I could count them all,” Katsuki boasted.
“Of course,” Izuku agreed. “Kacchan's amazing!”
Katsuki put his free hand on his hips, his face smug. He was used to being praised, but it always seemed a little more special when the praise came from Izuku. Maybe it was the way his face lit up, or the tone of his voice, but Izuku always seemed more sincere. He always stuck by Katsuki's side like he actually liked him, unlike some of their other classmates that just wanted to make themselves look good by association.
“Kacchan, look at this one!” Izuku dragged Katsuki towards a tank, pointing at the glass. “It looks like it's kissing the wall!”
Katsuki looked at the fish and grimaced. “That looks disgusting.”
“It's not disgusting,” Izuku protested. “I think it's cute!”
“That fish is called a common pleco,” an aquarium employee pointed out after noticing the boys. “They suck algae off the glass and rocks. That's how they eat. It also helps keep the tank clean.”
Izuku listened to the employee, fascinated by the novel information. “That's so cool!”
“That's nothing,” Katsuki huffed, pulling Izuku away. Once he got the other's attention again, he smirked. “Wait ‘til we see the sharks.”
“Sharks!” Izuku gasped, clenching his small fists in front of his chest. “I’m so excited!”
The class continued through the aquarium, stopping periodically to give each child ample time to marvel at each tank. Each room managed to amaze the students more than the last. Eels fascinated and frightened boys and girls alike. Pufferfish delighted like little sentient balloons. Stingrays made them squeal when they got to touch their slimy skin. Seahorses made them giggle after finding out that the daddies gave birth.
Izuku took in each new fish with wonderment, eager to learn. Meanwhile, Katsuki couldn't help but watch Izuku. He enjoyed the fish too, but Izuku was different. No matter how often Katsuki saw the other boy, he still found it hard to look away.
Izuku squeezed Katsuki's hand hard as they entered a room far darker than the preceding ones. Katsuki faced him to say something about being brave, but the words died on his tongue as his gaze locked on Izuku's eyes. He thought they sparkled from the reflections of tanks before. He knew nothing until this moment. Izuku's eyes opened wide, pupils heavily dilating to adjust to the lighting and nearly swallowing any trace of green. Now, they reflected shades of purple and pink and blue as glowing jellyfish danced in front of them.
Katsuki didn't quite understand what was happening to himself. His heart beat fast and he felt as if those very same jellyfish were dancing in his tummy. He had always wanted to keep Izuku nearby, but now he just wanted to hug him tight and never let go.
“They’re so pretty,” Izuku whispered, watching the creatures in awe.
“Yeah,” Katsuki agreed, his gaze still on Izuku.
“Alright children, it’s time to go to the next room,” the teacher called out far too soon.
Izuku pouted, waving goodbye to the jellyfish.
“Up next is the sharks!”
Both boys gasped in unison. Any lingering sadness they had about moving on quickly vanished. They both started to run towards the doorway until their teacher scolded them. Instead, they jumped up and down, unable to contain their excitement.
Once they were finally in the next room, Katsuki and Izuku rushed to the middle of the biggest tank and pressed their faces against the glass. They had arrived just as the sharks were being fed.
“Awesome!” Katsuki cheered as an employee tossed fish into one of the tanks. “Look how they tear those fish apart!”
“It’s kind of gross,” Izuku chuckled with his nose scrunched. “Mom would yell at me if I ate like that!”
“She probably wouldn’t if you were a shark. You could just eat her!”
“No!” Izuku cried. “I’d never eat her!”
“Yeah,” Katsuki agreed. “Your mom’s too nice to eat. My mom, though-”
“Kacchan!” Izuku interrupted with a laugh. “Auntie’s nice too! Anyways, sharks aren’t really all that mean or bad. They just act that way sometimes. Kinda like you!”
“Nu uh! I’m mean and bad all the time. Me and sharks are vicious,” Katsuki asserted.
“Whatever you say, Kacchan,” Izuku giggled. “But I don’t think you’re bad.”
“I’m a big bad boy,” Katsuki grumbled under his breath. “Anyways, let’s just look at the sharks.”
Izuku let the issue go. He knew how Katsuki liked to be perceived, and he had the privilege that very few others had of knowing Katsuki’s softer side. If he had to keep that knowledge to himself, he didn’t mind at all.
The class spent a good amount of time watching the sharks. There were big ones, little ones, ones with flat heads- so many more that Izuku even knew existed. The best part of it all, though, was Katsuki.
Katsuki took in every one of the animals with fierce excitement. His whole body vibrated, unable to contain his feelings. He gnashed his teeth, mimicking things he’d seen in movies more than the creatures before him, but he was having too much fun to care. Izuku was soon joining in, giggling and squealing.
The boys were worn out by the time the tour had ended. They were ready to leave, but there was one last stop before they were done. The exit was located just past the gift shop, and most of the students wanted something to remember their trip by.
Izuku was immediately drawn to the plushies. They were just so cute, and he just loved the ones that were extra soft and cuddly. It seemed like there was a stuffed version of every creature in the aquarium. Izuku gasped softly as his eyes landed on one in particular.
It was a great white shark with bright red eyes and a wide grin full of sharp teeth.
“Oh my gosh! It looks just like you!” Izuku turned to present it to Katsuki. He squeezed it to his chest as if to test its huggability. Satisfied, he took it to the counter to ask how much it cost.
Izuku’s smile fell.
“I don’t have enough money.” He put it back on the shelf and took a breath, putting on his best brave face. “It’s okay. Maybe I can ask for one for my birthday.”
Katsuki swallowed a lump in his throat. “It’s okay, you don’t need that thing anyway.”
“Yeah,” Izuku replied with a half-hearted shrug.
“Alright, students,” the teacher called. “Finish up so we can head to the bus.”
“Ready to go, Kacchan?” Izuku asked his friend.
“Um, you go ahead,” Katsuki answered, looking around. “I’m gonna go to the bathroom real quick.”
Izuku nodded as Katsuki ran off. He must have really had to go. Izuku would make sure to save them a good seat.
After a few minutes, Katsuki boarded the school bus. He held something behind his back as he searched the seats for Izuku.
“What’s that?” Izuku asked as the seat next to him was occupied.
“It’s just-” Katsuki began, but shut his mouth. Instead, he thrust the object towards Izuku. “Here. It’s nothin’, so don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Izuku’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open as he took in the thing now in his lap.
“Kacchan…” Izuku’s voice wobbled. He squeezed the soft grey shark tightly as Katsuki looked the other direction. He then threw himself at Katsuki, trapping the plushie between their bodies.
Katsuki hugged the smaller boy, glad that he wouldn’t be able to see the flaming red tint of his cheeks. “You looked really happy when you saw it. You’re no fun when you’re sad.”
Izuku giggled wetly, tears soaking into both of their shirts and the shark’s faux fur. “Thank you, Kacchan. I love it.”
“You better,” Katsuki huffed. His voice softened as he added “I’m glad.”