Chapter Text
It started with Kirishima.
Not that anyone would remember it that way.
By the end of the day, Kaminari would swear it started with Bakugo. Mina would insist it started with Midoriya. Sero would claim the whole thing was inevitable.
But really?
It started when Kirishima complimented Bakugo.
“Dude,” Kirishima said, staring at Bakugo’s training uniform. “That actually looks sick on you.”
Bakugo glanced down at himself.
“Obviously.”
Kirishima blinked.
“…That’s it?”
“What the hell else am I supposed to say?”
“I dunno. Thanks?”
Bakugo scoffed.
“Why? You stated a fact.”
Kirishima stared at him for a moment before grinning.
“Man, you really are terrible at compliments, huh?”
Bakugo’s eyebrow twitched.
“I’m not terrible at compliments.”
“You absolutely are.”
“I’m better at compliments than you.”
Kirishima laughed.
“Okay, then. Compliment me.”
Bakugo looked him up and down.
Kirishima immediately regretted asking.
“You’re… less annoying than usual today.”
There was silence.
Kirishima’s smile slowly disappeared.
“…Wow.”
Bakugo crossed his arms.
“What?”
“That was supposed to be a compliment?”
“It was.”
“You said I was less annoying.”
“Yeah. That means you’re improving.”
Kirishima stared at him.
“That is NOT a compliment!”
“It is if you understand what I meant.”
“You literally could’ve said I look good!”
“You already know you look good.”
Kirishima paused.
“…Okay, that one was actually kinda nice.”
Bakugo smirked.
“Exactly.”
Kirishima pointed at him.
“You’re weirdly confident about this.”
“Because I’m right.”
Unfortunately, that was when Midoriya walked into the common room.
“Hey, Kacchan. Hey, Kirishima.”
Bakugo immediately looked over.
Midoriya had clearly just come back from training. His hair was messier than usual, his cheeks were slightly flushed, and there was a tiny smear of dirt near his jaw.
Bakugo stared.
Kirishima noticed.
Oh no.
He knew that look.
Bakugo was thinking.
That was never good.
“What?” Midoriya asked.
Bakugo frowned.
“You look like shit.”
Kirishima slapped a hand over his face.
Midoriya froze.
“…Oh.”
Bakugo continued, completely unaware of the problem.
“Your hair’s all over the place. Your face is dirty. You’re sweating.”
Midoriya looked down at himself.
“Sorry?”
“But…”
Bakugo paused.
Kirishima slowly lowered his hand.
“But what?”
Bakugo looked directly at Midoriya.
“You look good anyway.”
Midoriya’s face went bright red.
Kirishima’s eyes widened.
Bakugo looked satisfied.
“See?”
Kirishima stared at him.
“You just called him a mess.”
“I said he looks good anyway.”
“You insulted him first!”
“I was describing him.”
“That doesn’t make it better!”
Midoriya nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
“I-I think I understand what Kacchan meant.”
“Thank you,” Bakugo said.
“You’re welcome.”
Kirishima looked between them.
“…You two are hopeless.”
Midoriya smiled awkwardly.
Bakugo crossed his arms.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Kirishima absolutely did not mention the fact that Midoriya was still red.
He also absolutely did not mention that Bakugo had been staring at Midoriya for approximately thirty seconds.
And he definitely wasn’t going to mention that Bakugo’s ears were slightly pink.
He wasn’t suicidal.
Instead, Kirishima decided to test something.
“Okay, Bakugo.”
“What?”
“Compliment me again.”
Bakugo sighed.
“You’re asking for this?”
“Yep.”
Bakugo looked him over.
“You’re strong.”
Kirishima smiled.
“See? That’s a normal compliment!”
“But you’re also loud.”
Kirishima’s smile dropped.
“And you have stupid hair.”
“Katsuki!”
“And you get distracted easily.”
“Bro!”
“But…”
Bakugo shrugged.
“It’s part of what makes you, you.”
Kirishima went quiet.
Bakugo looked at him like this was obvious.
Kirishima’s expression softened.
“…Okay.”
Bakugo nodded.
“See? I’m good at this.”
Kirishima immediately ruined the moment.
“You’re like ninety percent terrible and ten percent accidentally sweet.”
Bakugo’s eye twitched.
“Shut up.”
Midoriya giggled.
Bakugo whipped around.
“What are you laughing at, nerd?”
“Nothing!”
“You’re laughing.”
“I just—”
Midoriya smiled.
“I think you’re actually pretty good at compliments.”
Bakugo stared at him.
Kirishima stared at Midoriya.
Midoriya’s smile faltered.
“…What?”
Bakugo’s expression softened for half a second.
Then he looked away.
“Told you.”
Kirishima’s jaw dropped.
“NO.”
Bakugo frowned.
“What?”
“You cannot count that as proof!”
“Why not?”
“Because Midoriya is biased!”
Midoriya blinked.
“I am?”
Kirishima pointed between them.
“Yes!”
Bakugo’s face went red.
“Shut the hell up!”
Midoriya turned even redder.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Sure.”
Kirishima grinned.
Bakugo grabbed a nearby pillow.
“Kirishima.”
“Yeah?”
“Run.”
Kirishima’s grin widened.
“Oh, I’m running.”
He sprinted out of the common room.
“GET BACK HERE!”
Bakugo chased after him.
Midoriya stood there for a moment.
Then he smiled to himself.
Maybe Bakugo was bad at compliments.
But honestly?
Midoriya didn’t mind.
Especially when they were meant for him.