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By all accounts, it was a very normal day for 2-A when it happened. The sun was shining, it was warm outside, and no one had been attacked by villains for a few days.
But for Katsuki, the day was of note. It was the day of Izuku’s birthday party, also known as the one day a year they had to get along in front of their parents with no other feigned excuse.
Neither of them were able to actually get off of campus for the day to visit their parents given that they had class the next morning, but it was fine. 2-A had worked together to plan a small party for Izuku in hopes of cheering both their class’s hope and the rest of their spirits up with the party.
Izuku’s birthday had actually been almost a month and a half ago, but between the war, restoration efforts, and all the healing that had to be done, this was the first time they were actually able to hold it.
Iida had worked to occupy Izuku for the entirety of the morning, first taking him on an extended run to rebuild his strength after his extensive post-war bedrest then practicing quirkless combat training with him.
Meanwhile, the rest of 2-A set up various decorations and picked up a cake they’d ordered from a nearby bakery.
Katuski’s role was a little bit different though, he had to make Auntie Inko’s signature katsudon. The dish was spicy, more so than could typically be found at most restaurants in Japan, but she’d learned it from Uncle Hisashi before he left.
He squatted briefly, squinting at the pork chops in the oven. He couldn’t actually tell if they were done or not until he brought them out of the oven, but he wanted to ensure their exterior crusts didn’t burn.
Katsuki didn’t even bother to greet Izuku when he finally walked through the front door to the dorms with Iida in tow. He had to finish cooking.
Despite everything that happened, Katsuki was still working on building his relationship with Izuku back up from the ground. After the war had ended, they’d decided to just try and start over.
They were close at one point, that was certainly true. It was a time Katsuki missed more than anything. But that was also a long time ago.
Katuski had changed over the years. Izuku as well. But they both still had a future and that included one another.
From the room behind him, he could hear Izuku’s surprised yelling and the start of his signature Midoriya family waterworks as the rest of 2-A popped out from behind couches and began to overwhelm him with pure support and love.
Katsuki hummed, adding the final ingredient to the base of the sauce beneath him.
They weren’t the same, his relationship with Izuku really never could be the same again, but it would be happy and it would be the future he shared alongside the rest of 2-A.
He glanced down at the pot of simmering sauce beneath him, giving it a quick stir before taking it off of the heat to thicken.
As his body went through the still well practiced motions of making the dish, his mind wandered off once again. He can’t help the regret for the way things had gone, the path that had so thoroughly driven them apart.
He’d been an asshole, Katsuki can freely admit that to himself, even if he wasn’t quite to the point of admitting it out loud yet. Not to anyone besides Izuku at least. Izuku had deserved that apology, deserved every bit of penance Katsuki had done and will do. As long as Izuku will have him, Katsuki plans to spend the rest of his life making up for the past.
It may be long ago now, but Katsuki can still make it better.
Before long, the Katsudon was finished and ready for consumption. He served up a big portion of it for Izuku before taking it out to the table that had been prepared in advance for dinner. He set it down, turning to call Izuku over.
Izuku appeared from down the hall, then bounced over to the table; practically vibrating with excitement as he sat on the cushion and beamed at Katsuki.
“You made this for me?”
“Of course I did, nerd. It’s your favorite,” Katsuki replied easily. Part of him almost flinched at the shine of tears in Izuku’s eyes. He still struggled with how readily this Izuku cried, whether due to joy or sadness.
With enthusiasm, Izuku dug in, taking his first bite before promptly bursting into tears.
“What’s wrong?” Katuki asked, suddenly irrationally worried he’d ruined it completely. It’d been years since he’d made it for Izuku, after all.
“You made it just like her, like Mom does,” Izuku said through the tears. “You remember.”
Katsuki scoffed and nodded, throat tight. “Of course I do, there’s no way I’d forget something that important.”
“But that was a long time ago,” Izuku said, reaching up towards Katsuki in a hesitant request for a hug. “We were just kids then…”
Katsuki couldn't stand it any longer, he dropped to his knees and scooped Izuku into a tight hug. “Remembering it was important, you are important to me. Auntie Inko made sure I’d remember, even when I was sure it didn’t matter anymore. It was a long time ago, but it was your favorite.”
Izuku held Katsuki tight, the tears soaked into Katsuki’s shoulder. Once the tears quiet, Katsuki gently squeezed Izuku before letting go and pulling back.
“Eat your food before it gets cold. I didn’t put all that work in so you could eat cold Katsudon, Auntie would never let me live it down.”
Izuku giggled wetly before returning to his seat and beginning to eat once more. Katsuki turned and looked towards where the rest of the nerd’s friends were badly pretending not to listen.
“I made enough for all of you extras too, come keep him company.”
The rest of the group eagerly swarmed into the kitchen, descending upon Katsuki’s efforts like a flock of vultures. Katsuki snorted and turned back to his own dish. Soon the rest settled all around him, the room filled with chatter and muted excitement.
Once the rest of the class had sat down, Izuku looked up from his bowl. “Thank you all,” he offered sincerely. “I think we all needed this.”
And that they certainly did.
Even after the sun set that evening and all of 2-A retreated to their dorm rooms, their spirits stayed higher than Katsuki had seen them in a very long time.
And with that, he was one step closer to a repaired relationship with the boy he once called his closest friend.
They had a future now and Katsuki would work hard to see it.