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Damn. I shouldn't have done that. Not that I wanted anything with him specifically; not that I liked Shoto. I was just curious and, by chance, he'd become a close friend recently. Come on, he'd mysteriously invited me to go to the bathroom, take a bath, and bring my egg! What was I supposed to think?
But the confused look and furrowed brow on his face told me there had been absolutely no second intentions behind it. I was the pervert. I rolled my eyes and tried not to laugh nervously, then apologized calmly, saying it wasn't anything like that. He laughed too and said it was fine. He put a hand on my shoulder and, nervously, prepared himself to tell me a... secret? I leaned closer.
Shoto wanted my help asking Momo Yaoyorozu to the ball. Of course he did. Of course he was going to ask her. A girl! Not a boy. Not that I wanted to go to the ball with Shoto, but, again, he'd been close lately.
Iida was out of the question, obviously. Ochaco could go with me as my best friend, but I thought she was still waiting for Iida to realize what was right in front of his face - hopefully that day would come soon, maybe sometime this decade! - and ask her himself.
I still didn't have a date either, of course. I'd spent days - or weeks... months? - thinking about how I felt. And now, with the announcement of the ball, I was almost certain I didn't want to go with a girl. Romantically speaking. Surprisingly - even to me - I kept thinking about one particular person, but... it was too insane.
"Izuku!"
"Huh?"
"I'm going to the library... Are you coming?" Ochaco gave me a funny look.
"Yeah..." I shifted on the common-room sofa and glanced around.
"Are you okay?" Her eyebrows drew together. I looked at her, smiled. Nodded.
"This tournament is pretty complicated, isn't it?" she continued.
I sighed, and she put a hand on my shoulder while she waited for me to stand. "But you're doing really well! You were amazing against the Hungarian Horntail. Now come on, we need to figure out how you're going to get into that lake without dying!"
A second later I was being dragged away by an Ochaco who wouldn't stop talking about possible underwater breathing spells, but my mind was still wandering. This tournament was destroying me and I still had the nerve to spend my time thinking about boys. Unbelievable.
Unfortunately, daydreaming isn't always beneficial. I didn't realize just how far gone I was until I walked straight into someone and my glasses fell to the floor. I blinked.
"Watch where you're going, Deku." I blinked again.
"What?" I muttered so quietly I didn't know if he'd heard me. But then he ran a hand through his hair, and I realized it was wet. He must have just gotten out of the shower. He fixed it again, and I noticed movement right in front of me. Only then did I realize I'd leaned even closer to him so I could see his hair and smell his-
"Deku!" I blinked one more time, harder this time. I could barely see anything. Kacchan scowled, wearing that furious expression only he could make look natural. "Did somebody hit you with a Confundus or something? Take your damn glasses, Deku!"
He shoved them against my chest and I stumbled. Kacchan rolled his eyes and left without another word.
I looked back. At him. Blinked again, now with my glasses on and my vision perfectly clear. Perfectly clear. I felt something touch my arm and spun around to find Ochaco staring at me like she'd just witnessed something she couldn't begin to understand. She pulled me along anyway and went straight back to talking about how we were going to keep me alive during the second task.
I sighed when our library table was already covered in books and we still had no solution. I leaned over the wood and rested my head on my arms. Ochaco kept talking now that Iida was there to listen to her. I was just exhausted. I hadn't even properly figured out the egg's clue - actually, I hadn't figured out any of it. I should have been desperate, but I was only tired.
And in my thoughts was the face of someone I definitely hadn't expected to be thinking about. Especially at a time like this. I closed my eyes to sleep for a little while... Just a little while...
"...transfigure you into a submarine!" My eyes snapped open.
"What?" Ochaco sighed. I sat up, stretching my back while still in the chair.
"We're looking for you, Izuku, so help us! What if you turned into some kind of aquatic animal, but... No, we definitely need a spell. The most practical thing would be something that lets you breathe underwater, but we haven't found it. Izuku! Don't sleep. Iida, shake him. Have you understood the entire egg clue yet? We can help you, but you need to help yourself... Don't look at me like that, pull yourself together! The task is tomorrow, for Merlin's sake, Izuku! You-"
"Midoriya..." Iida called quietly. Ochaco kept talking. "She appears to be more frantic about this than you are." He looked at her, then back at me. "Despite that, she does seem rather happy, doesn't she? Do you think she might be seeing someone?"
I wanted to laugh when Iida's face turned bright red and he grabbed the nearest book to distract himself. I rolled my eyes.
"Stop thinking about that for a second. Who are you two going to the ball with?" Both of them stared at me. I blushed.
"I don't have anyone yet, Midoriya, you know that," Iida huffed. Ochaco glared at him. Then he suddenly shot upright as if a light had switched on inside his head. "Uraraka! You are a girl!" Her eyes widened.
"You don't say!"
"You should go with one of us, as our friend!" Ochaco stood quickly, slammed shut every book in front of her, stacked them, and gathered them into her arms. Her expression had closed off and she wouldn't look at either of us.
"I don't want to go as a friend, Tenya. And, if you don't mind, I already have a date!" And just like that, she left us alone in the library. I didn't pay attention to Iida's outraged questions about who her date could possibly be, or his insistence that she must be lying so she wouldn't have to go with either of us. I tuned it all out.
"Come on... I think I need to rest for tomorrow."
We got up to return to the common room, Iida still complaining. In the dormitory, we said a quick goodnight and went to bed, but I couldn't close my eyes. For the first time that day, I allowed myself to think about the second task, now only a few hours away.
We have taken what you'll sorely miss... It can only be air, right? Right... No. Wrong. An hour long you'll have to look, and to recover what we took. It didn't make sense to wander around the lake for an hour only to recover air. That would happen eventually anyway. It had to be something inside the lake.
What would I miss? Maybe they'd take everyone's wands. We'd definitely miss those, and it would even stop us from using magic during the task. No, but spells were allowed in the lake. So... what? My broom? Something specific to each champion, or something general for everyone? My head hurt from thinking so much. All I knew was that I needed to recover what I would miss. I squeezed my eyes shut.
I needed some air. I grabbed the Invisibility Cloak from beside my bed and slowly moved toward the door so I wouldn't wake anyone. Iida made a sudden noise in his sleep and scared the life out of me, and I practically trembled all the way to the door.
I left the common room and headed for the Astronomy Tower. There was a place there, a little farther away, with a beautiful view, and there was also a room that looked like a greenhouse, filled with plants that always calmed me down.
I walked quietly so I wouldn't wake any portraits or attract Present Mic's attention, wherever he might be roaming at this hour. I climbed the tower and watched it for a moment. Silence. I sighed in relief. I removed the cloak, folded it, and placed it over my shoulder.
Hands in my pockets, I walked toward the more secluded spot - the best one - while watching the full moon overhead. It was beautiful. I lowered my gaze and stopped dead, eyes widening. A strange noise escaped my throat and caught his attention.
Kacchan looked at me, startled. I really should have checked the map to see if anyone was here.
"Deku! What the hell are you doing here?!"
"Wh- I- What are you doing here?" He rolled his eyes.
"I don't owe you an explanation, Deku." Kacchan turned away again, leaning against the ledge and completely ignoring me.
I stared at him for a few minutes. He wasn't wearing his usual sharp, expensive clothes, just a thin shirt and sweatpants. Kacchan ran his hand through his hair again and, once again, that weird noise escaped my throat. What was wrong with me? I noticed him looking at me from the corner of his eye before he scoffed. From the restless bounce of his leg, he was clearly irritated by my presence. But I wasn't giving in. If he had problems, he could stay there as long as I could. I needed to calm down and think.
I took a breath and walked toward the greenhouse a little farther down. I passed behind Kacchan and noticed that his hair wasn't styled the way it usually was. But... why the hell would I notice that? I clenched my hands at my sides and walked faster.
When I reached the door, I glanced sideways at Kacchan. To my complete surprise, he was looking at me too. He turned away immediately. He looked exhausted. Completely drained. Even I, the person actually competing in the tournament, didn't look that worn out. He didn't even seem to have enough energy to insult me properly.
His hair shifted in the gentle wind. His jaw was clenched, and somehow the muscles in his arms looked bigger in the moonlight. His skin almost seemed to glow. I saw him wrinkle his nose - probably because of me, but I didn't care. He looked kind of cute when he was annoyed. Which meant always-
"Lost something, Deku?" He finally looked directly at me, eyes burning. I snapped my gaze away, heart racing, turned the handle, and entered the room.
The smell of plants and flowers filled my lungs and I closed my eyes, already calmer. I left the door open and walked slowly toward the middle of the room. I looked to the left, where my favorite plants usually stood, and froze.
More than anything else, I was surprised. Far beyond surprised. Professor All Might had briefly mentioned that they were bringing it back for a short time before moving it again, but I'd never imagined they would hide it here. Maybe it was even in the same room where it had been during my first year.
I approached the Mirror of Erised, and the image waiting for me was different now. My mother was there, of course, but so were Ochaco and Iida. All Might too. And a few other people. I couldn't name them before the egg clue pushed its way back into my thoughts.
We have taken what you'll sorely miss.
"What would I miss?"
The reflection changed. Not completely. But the people beside me simply made room for someone to pass between them and walk slowly to my side. He was smiling. My eyes widened and I almost fell over.
I looked behind me to make sure it wasn't some kind of illusion and breathed out in relief. Kacchan had entered the room and was now walking toward me. But he wasn't smiling. His usual expression was on his face as he looked around, hands shoved into his pockets.
I looked back at the mirror. There he was. Standing beside me. Smiling. Everyone else behind us. I looked at the real Kacchan as he approached in short steps until he stopped beside me. This Kacchan wasn't smiling.
"What, Deku? Your common room run out of mirrors?" He gave a fake laugh. "Wouldn't surprise me." I stopped staring at him and looked forward again. At him in the reflection. It looked exactly like him, even the same clothes. But what was-
"What do you see, Kacchan?" His brows pulled together and he shifted a little farther away. The disgusted expression remained, but now a short, derisive laugh escaped him.
"Forgot how mirrors work, Deku? Pathetic."
Kacchan pointed at the mirror as though the reflection were obvious. As though our reflection were obvious. As though he could see us. And he could. Obviously. I couldn't stop looking at him.
"Great Deku finally lost what's left of his brain." He gave a sharp little laugh while still staring at our reflection, while I stared at him. His eyebrows drew together and he wrinkled his nose again. "How long are you gonna keep staring at me, nerd? I'll hex you right here if you don't stop looking at me like some psycho." I looked back at the mirror.
There it was. Me and Kacchan. Could the mirror be broken? Was that why All Might had brought it back, so somebody could fix it? No, that wasn't possible. I could still see my mother, Ochaco, Iida, All Might, all of them behind us. Smiling at us. At the two of us, who were smiling too. I was smiling. Kacchan was smiling.
But neither of us in real life was smiling. I felt the tension beside me and looked at him. Now Kacchan was staring at the mirror in outright shock. So much so that he stepped back and raised one hand as if he needed to protect himself from it. Whatever he was seeing couldn't be good...
Or maybe it was too good to accept, considering the mirror showed desire. Your deepest desire. I wondered what his was.
Without ceremony or goodbye, Kacchan stormed out of the room, leaving me behind. I could hear his footsteps long after he disappeared because he had apparently started running. I looked back at the mirror. There we were. Now I was the frightened one.
It wasn't possible... was it? I shook my head. I was going back to the common room. I'd come here to relax and managed the exact opposite. Better to sleep for a while. I needed to rest. I ignored the clue completely. Let the task surprise me.
ϟ
When someone started shaking me frantically, my eyes refused to open. How long had I slept? A minute? I rolled over, but Iida sounded far too desperate to ignore.
I sat up and slowly opened my eyes. Through the blur, all I could make out was a pair of glasses very close to my face.
"Uraraka is gone." I rubbed my eyes... What?
"Well, not gone. Professor Aizawa called for her. Can you believe that? What do you think happened? It was early, but you slept so deeply I couldn't wake you when Sero came to tell us."
"Hm..." I rubbed my eyes again. "What... Wait... What? Why did he call her?" Iida adjusted his glasses sharply.
"Have you rested at all? I don't know what happened, but she won't be able to watch the task." I sighed. I hadn't even found a way to get into the damn lake without dying. Whatever I was supposed to miss wasn't going to matter if I couldn't even get back out. "...you're late!" he shouted. My eyes widened. "Midoriya!"
"Midoriya Izuku!"
"AH!" Iida and I both yelled, and he nearly fell backward when Kota appeared right in front of my bed.
"Midoriya Izuku! I didn't mean to scare you! I-"
"Kota! What happened? What are you doing here?"
"I have something urgent for you!"
"A message? From who?"
"You need to hurry! You're late for the second task! I knew you'd mess this up if nobody came to get you!"
"Kota, calm down!"
"Midoriya, buddy, you really are late. Hurry!"
"Here!" Kota shoved something toward me. "Use this for the task. It'll keep you alive." There was no time for anything. I grabbed the gillyweed from his hand.
"Are you sure?" I called, already moving away to change and run.
"Yes! Just go!" I rushed out with Iida beside me and realized I had less than five minutes before the task began. I was supposed to have arrived much earlier for instructions and time to prepare. Just as Iida had said, Ochaco wasn't there. Not anywhere.
The headmasters of the other schools glared at me for being late. Iida stood a little behind me, throwing out encouraging words at such speed I could barely understand them.
Shoto, beside me, gave me a serious look and raised his thumb.
"We'll do well."
I stared at the gillyweed in my hand and prepared to eat it when the announcement ended.
"You have one hour to recover what has been taken from you!"
A spell exploded overhead and everyone began entering the water. I hurriedly shoved the gillyweed into my mouth - what a horrifying taste and texture - and only realized I'd frozen in disgust when Iida shouted at me and pushed me into the lake. I thrashed as the plant began to take effect. It had to work. I trusted Kota. Merlin, help me.
Then it felt as though an enormous bubble had covered my mouth and nose. I tried to scream and grabbed my throat, but then I looked at my hands. My fingers were joined by what looked like membranes. My feet hurt too, but the pain in my neck was worse.
What had felt like death from lack of air suddenly felt like life again. My neck stopped hurting and that was when I realized... I'd grown gills. I breathed. My feet no longer hurt either. They were like my hands, webbed and scaled, only much larger. I felt strangely alive. Swimming was miraculously pleasant. It felt as if I could go anywhere I wanted. For one moment, I felt free. Until I remembered why I was there.
We have taken what you'll sorely miss. Right. I had one damn hour and no idea where to start or what to look for. The lake was enormous. But there had to be something somewhere. I looked one way, then the other. Nothing. Only plants. Fine. I moved forward.
Maybe ten minutes passed, leaving me only fifty to finish the task, and all I'd done was wander through the lake. It felt like far longer. Something moved on my right and, when I looked, someone was swimming toward me quickly.
Mirio had partially transfigured himself into a shark and shot past me. I followed, but I was much slower. The scenery never changed. The same thing over and over, and I still didn't know what we were looking for. Had somebody already found it?
I felt something behind me. I turned and almost screamed. Merpeople. Hundreds of them, scattered everywhere. Just staring. And then, farther beyond them, I saw it. Four people suspended by ropes. They looked unconscious.
My eyes widened. We have taken what you'll sorely miss. Of course, Izuku, you idiot. A person you'd miss. Apparently nobody had reached them yet. If this was the objective, I was ahead. Slowly, I approached the crowd of merpeople, fearing the worst, but they only moved aside and let me pass.
I swam closer to the four people but couldn't identify them at first. Ropes were tied around their ankles, holding them in place. What kind of horrifying task was this? Who designed it, All For One? What the hell.
I hurried toward the person closest to me and smiled.
That was why Ochaco had been called away. She'd been brought here for someone to recover. I didn't stop to question it, though it seemed at least a little... random. Then I looked at the other three.
Beside Ochaco was Momo Yaoyorozu, probably for Shoto. I almost laughed. He had probably already asked her to the ball, and whatever was happening between them must have been going well if she was here. I hoped so. They were incredible and deserved each other.
Beside Momo was Eri, clearly much younger than the rest of us. Nejire was fiercely protective of her, so that made perfect sense. More than perfect sense. Then I looked at the person beside Eri and my vision blurred.
On instinct, I backed away from all of them. My eyes felt as though they might fall out of their sockets. For a moment, it seemed like the gillyweed had suddenly stopped working and I couldn't breathe anymore.
Kacchan was hanging there.
A blur rushed past me and startled me, heading straight for Ochaco. Mirio freed her and was about to leave when I almost stopped him, but didn't. It made sense, didn't it? I remembered Ochaco mentioning him. I cursed myself for barely paying attention whenever my friends weren't talking to me about the tournament. I'd been such an asshole these past few days.
But I had been thinking about someone. And he was right there. I looked at him. It made so much sense... I wrapped my arms around myself and looked down into the endless water below. I closed my eyes and curled inward. What was happening? Why was this happening?
"Izuku!" I turned and saw Shoto untying Momo. "You need to be quick. Nejire is already coming."
Shoto's eyes shifted toward Kacchan and his eyebrows rose, visibly surprised - obviously, I was too - but he didn't act strange. He didn't say anything else. He took Momo and swam toward me.
To my surprise, he pointed impatiently at Kacchan. "Go. We're running out of time."
And then he swam toward the surface. That left me, Eri and... Kacchan.
I grabbed my hair. How the hell could this be happening? Who knew about this? Ochaco had been called by Aizawa, so who had called Kacchan? Naturally, the person would have had to agree. Had he agreed? And how did they know who each champion would miss? What was happening?
I heard movement farther away and looked back. Nejire was swimming toward us, but she was still quite far. Right. The damn task. The damn time. I didn't want to finish last. Third place would have to do.
I closed my eyes for two seconds to pull myself together, then swam to Kacchan. I stopped in front of him and put my hands on his face. He looked paler than usual, and his hair was an absolute mess. Unexpectedly, I laughed. Then shook my head.
I took my wand and murmured a quick spell to undo the knot. The rope released him. I caught him around the waist and looked at him. His expression was peaceful, as though he were simply asleep. And somehow he managed to look even more handsome.
Then I began swimming toward the surface as Nejire reached Eri. I hurried, trying at least to finish third. I held Kacchan firmly around the waist so he wouldn't slip, but the gillyweed was beginning to wear off and swimming became harder.
At last we broke the surface. I gasped after those few seconds without air and looked sideways as Kacchan did the same. Thank Merlin. Neither of us was going to need the Hospital Wing.
I reached for his arm to help him swim, but all he did was scowl and head for the platform where everyone was waiting - not before turning an absolutely furious look on me.
"What the hell, Deku?!" Everyone - and when I say everyone, I mean literally everyone - stared at us in complete disbelief.
Everyone except All Might. He was smiling. The bastard was smiling. I narrowed my eyes. As we approached, people shifted aside, but nobody said anything. Not even to one another. Silence ruled the entire lakeside until we reached the platform, when Kacchan's shout shattered it.
"What kind of bullshit is this?!" Kacchan stood angrily and threw away the towel someone had given him. I tried to approach, but his eyes widened and he backed away. He pointed at me in warning - or threat - and I only sighed, stopping where I was.
With heavy, furious steps, Kacchan turned and stormed toward the castle. Kirishima, who had been waiting near the edge of the crowd with a worried expression, immediately hurried after him. Everyone else was still staring at me in silence until Ochaco practically fell against me and hugged me.
"Izuku! Are you okay? Did you take too long? Are you hurt? Did anything attack you?"
"Are you all right, Izuku?" Shoto came over with Momo.
"Midoriya..." was all Iida managed.
And with that, everyone slowly pulled themselves together and began dispersing. All I could think about was Kacchan. And the fact that he had been my person. The one I would miss.
ϟ
I couldn't eat at dinner. Not even if I'd tried. The Slytherin table was far more interesting, and I couldn't stop looking at him. Every now and then our eyes met, but his expression only became angrier each time.
The whole school already knew that Midoriya Izuku had recovered Katsuki Bakugo during the second task, and I didn't know what was worse: the looks from literally every student in Hogwarts or Kacchan's looks. Definitely Kacchan's. Those hurt more.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. It really wasn't. I didn't want to like him. I shouldn't. What the hell were people going to think? And I didn't have time for this, especially not with him. It was Kacchan. My life was already complicated enough without Katsuki Bakugo forcing his way into it, but he always did. He was always there, making sure I knew he existed.
I clenched my fists over my legs as we sat on the common-room sofa. Iida and Ochaco had stared at me all day since the task, waiting for me to say something. The fact that Ochaco had been Mirio's person had somehow gone completely unnoticed.
"Izuku..." she said. She looked at me. Waited. I sighed.
"There's nothing to talk about, okay? It's... that."
"Are you two dating?"
"What?!" I stared at her. Iida did too. "No! Of course not. Merlin, Ochaco." She looked confused.
"It's the most logical thing to assume considering he was there for you to rescue."
"Then why were you there for Togata to retrieve?" Iida asked.
Thank you, Iida. "That is not the point, Tenya." She glared at him. He turned back to me.
"Midoriya, what in Merlin's name was that?" Iida finally exploded. "Bakugo? Katsuki Bakugo? Even in my wildest dreams I could not have anticipated witnessing such a thing. Dreams? No, nightmares!" He put both hands on his head. "I cannot believe I saw that with my own eyes. My apologies, eyes. This is Midoriya's fault!"
I looked at Ochaco. I needed to tell someone. She knew I had something to say and simply waited.
"I- I went... There's this place farther out by the Astronomy Tower that I go to sometimes. It's like a greenhouse." Ochaco kept the same calm expression. "I went there last night and... Kacchan was there. Iida..." I scolded him for the face he made. "Anyway... You won't believe this. The Mirror of Erised was there too. My reflection wasn't that different at first. My mom was there, and you two, and All Might, but then... Kacchan entered the greenhouse and when I asked what he saw..."
I took a deep breath. I needed to say it.
"He said he saw us. He thought the mirror was working normally, so technically he saw us, right? But then I- and then I- Okay, I'm calm. Then... he appeared in my reflection. We were smiling at each other, and my mom was smiling at us, and you were smiling at us. Iida, stop making that face! But then he got scared by whatever he saw and ran away." Only then did I realize I was breathing too quickly, almost hyperventilating. Ochaco sat beside me and rubbed my arm.
"It's okay..." She spent a few minutes calming me down before getting my attention again. "I think you know what that means, don't you?"
"Bakugo, Midoriya?!" Iida suddenly shouted, making everyone look at us. My eyes widened and I shushed him furiously. He looked completely betrayed by reality.
ϟ
All I wanted was for Potions to end. I'd talked more with Ochaco the day before and had finally made a decision - she had insisted and convinced me - to talk to Kacchan today. At least to clear things up.
Kacchan might not want anything, and that wouldn't exactly be surprising. I didn't think his reflection in the Mirror could lie to him, much less mine. As painful as it was, I knew how I felt. But I didn't want to feel this way.
Merlin knew what All For One and his followers were doing at that exact moment. The threat hanging over everything was already enough to make my life impossible. And Kacchan was the most complicated person in the world for me to become interested in - my childhood rival, the person who could infuriate me faster than anyone, the person whose life had been tangled with mine for as long as I could remember.
But I like him.
"Midoriya." I turned toward Professor Vlad King, who was glaring at me. Only then did I realize I'd spent most of the lesson staring at- "Perhaps I should teach you the love potion ahead of schedule so you can give it to Bakugo as soon as possible. What do you think?" Wouldn't be a terrible idea.
"Sorry, sir."
"Do your assignment!" He began walking away, then paused. "And ten points from Gryffindor." I groaned. Iida glared at me. I knew exactly what he wanted to say, but I ignored him and went back to an assignment I'd already forgotten the purpose of.
I looked at Kacchan one last time before forcing myself to concentrate. I smiled. Kacchan was looking back. When class ended, Ochaco hurriedly dragged an Iida bubbling with indignation away from me while he started complaining again about "Bakugo, of all people" and listing every reason this was a terrible idea. I ignored him. And waited outside the classroom.
Kirishima emerged first, talking animatedly over his shoulder. Kacchan followed, distracted and clearly lost in thought. Kirishima noticed me waiting, looked between us, and gave Kacchan a small, knowing grin before clapping him on the shoulder.
"I'll catch you later, man."
"Whatever, Shitty Hair."
Kirishima left. I carefully touched Kacchan's arm and pulled him a little to the side so we weren't blocking the door. For one tiny second, he looked startled when he saw me.
I could have sworn his eyes lit up. Or maybe that was only because mine did.
"Deku! What do you want?" He pulled his arm free.
"Just to talk, Kacchan."
"Then talk. There are millions of people in this damn school you could talk to."
Kacchan started to walk away, already irritated, but I grabbed his arm again, tighter this time, and pulled him toward the other side of the corridor, ignoring every protest he threw at me. I stopped in front of him.
"I want to talk to you, Kacchan."
"Well, I don't want to talk to you, Deku."
Again he tried to leave. Again I caught his arm. This would be the last time. I pulled him closer. Much closer, and I hadn't even meant to. My gaze briefly dropped to his lips, almost level with my eyes, but I didn't know if he noticed. He glared at me.
"Please..." He sharply knocked my hand away and stepped even closer. I backed up.
"What the hell do you want, Deku?!" His voice was lower, but the anger hadn't faded. I looked around. Nobody was there.
"Not here, Kacchan... Come with me." I reached for him, but he dodged.
"Are you fucking kidding me, Deku?! Just spit it out and leave me alone!"
"Leave you alone?" It was my turn to raise my voice. "How exactly am I supposed to leave you alone when you're the one who showed up down there for me to rescue?" I pointed at him, fingertip touching his chest. I shivered. Kacchan smacked my arm away.
"You think I knew what was gonna happen? They told me I was participating in the damn task. All Might said I wouldn't regret it! How the hell did I let them talk me into getting dragged underwater?!"
Red eyes locked onto mine. I shivered again under that piercing stare. For one second, I got lost in it. Then he stepped closer, nose wrinkling.
"What do you want to tell me, Deku?"
"Can we go somewhere else?"
"I swear I'll kill you." I shrugged and kept staring. He scoffed and started walking in the opposite direction from where he'd originally been going. He'd finally given in.
"Not that way, Kacchan... There's somewhere specific."
I didn't wait to hear whatever insult or threat he threw after me. I kept walking and, thankfully, he followed. I could practically feel his tension, anger and anxiety filling the air behind me.
When we finally reached the Astronomy Tower, he looked so confused he had apparently forgotten how to insult me. I walked quickly toward the place I always went. The greenhouse was, as usual, empty and filled with flowers. Every plant-preserving charm imaginable must have been used there, because everything remained beautiful and alive in every season despite the fact that I never saw anyone tending to it.
"What the hell are we doing here, Deku?"
I ignored him again. Thank Merlin the Mirror of Erised was still there. I hurried toward it and stopped in front of my reflection. Kacchan stopped impatiently beside me. He looked everywhere except at me. He stared carefully at himself in the reflection and at whatever else he was seeing. I turned toward him.
"What do you see?"
"This again, Deku?" he snapped. "Does that brain of yours actually work or is it decoration?"
"Answer me, Kacchan. What do you see?"
"You don't order me around, Deku!" He shouted and started to leave, but I grabbed his arm.
"Tell me. Please. What do you see, Kacchan? This is what I wanted to talk about." Kacchan laughed without humor, impatient.
"What exactly do you want to talk about? Whether my eyesight works? Our reflection? Us?" He laughed again and shook his head.
"Is that what you see? The two of us?"
"Obviously, Deku! You think I'm stupid? It's a mirror!" I turned fully toward him, then looked away.
This was insane. I never imagined anything like this would happen. Merlin's beard, we were rivals. Mortal enemies, if you wanted to be dramatic about it. But Ochaco had told me yesterday: Love and hate walk close together, don't they? They do.
"Do you know what this mirror is?"
"Is this some kind of joke, Deku? I don't have time for this! I can't believe you dragged me here to-"
"Kacchan! This is the Mirror of Erised." I waited for a reaction, but all he did was keep looking at me. Angrily. So I continued toward the point I'd been trying to reach. "It's not an ordinary mirror. There's a spell..." I looked at the glass. Our reflection. "It shows you your deepest desires."
The reaction I expected never came. Nothing came, actually. Not a single word. Then Kacchan stopped looking at me and turned toward the mirror. He looked taller than me standing there, and for a moment I felt small and terrified of what I'd just said.
What if he completely lost it because of this? What if he couldn't accept it? Worse, what if he simply refused to? I dared to look at him through the reflection. He was looking at me. I didn't know if it counted, because the Kacchan in the reflection was smiling. I looked beside me. The real Kacchan wasn't. I didn't know why I'd let myself hope.
He kept staring at our reflection while I stared at him. Kacchan parted his lips as though he were about to say something, and my attention dropped to them. Entirely inviting. Without realizing it, I moved a little closer while still staring straight ahead - except not at my own eyes. At his mouth.
"What do you see?" Kacchan asked. I turned back to the mirror.
"My mom is there... Ochaco and Iida. All Might too, and... you." Kacchan turned toward me. I met his eyes. "What did you see that night?" I asked.
For a moment, it looked like he might hesitate. His scowl had disappeared and he seemed calmer. He looked directly into my eyes before taking another step forward. Merlin, what was happening? I felt cornered. Plants behind me, Kacchan bigger than me in front of me.
"Why was I your person in the second task, Deku?"
"I don't know. You don't know either-"
"Why was it me, Deku?"
"I don't know, maybe-"
"Why, Deku?!" His voice rose. I frowned and put one hand on his chest, intending to push him back and confront him. My hand stayed there.
"Because I like you, Kacchan!"
And there it was. Just like that. To him. Of all people. The situation couldn't possibly be worse. I swallowed and tried to prepare myself for whatever he might do.
Kacchan moved his face away from mine - we'd been only inches apart; how had I not noticed? - and looked back at the mirror.
"I saw us... kissing." He said.
My heart jumped. That was specific. And terrifying. Merlin, help me. Kacchan might actually have to catch me because I was going to fall over.
I kept looking at him. The clenched jaw - and what a jaw. His mouth pressed into a thin line, eyes narrowed. And my hand was still resting on his chest.
I wouldn't deny it: it was scary. Not the fact that I liked him and that he might like me too - although yes, obviously, that was terrifying as well. It was like discovering Batman and the Joker had feelings for each other. Merlin's sake. But mostly it was the situation surrounding our lives.
I didn't know what All For One planned to do or whether the threat hanging over our world would become worse. I couldn't predict any of it. And Kacchan was the most complicated person I could possibly become involved with in the middle of something like this. We had years of rivalry, anger, history, things neither of us knew how to say out loud. It would be difficult. We'd probably go through more than I could even imagine.
We'd have to care about each other a lot to willingly put ourselves through that... Wait. What did I just think? His head slowly turned toward me and my heart sped up again when I focused on him. His expression was calm now, and his eyes were definitely shining - it wasn't only me this time. I was sure.
How could one person change so much in seconds? I didn't know exactly when I'd started liking him, but he'd always been there, always challenging me. Had he liked me too? For how long? Maybe Ochaco really had been right about love and hate.
I studied his face. And... What was that? A smile? Every second this became more frightening. But somehow it was the good kind of frightening. The kind I wanted to try.
With one hand still on his chest, I flattened my palm there and gently pulled him closer. I felt Kacchan hesitate, so I waited. With all the courage I had left - I was extremely nervous, excuse me - I smiled. Just smiled. He didn't smile back. Instead, he put both hands on my waist. I stopped breathing.
"What do we do now?"
Yes, he meant what are we supposed to do from now on with our lives apparently tangled together, but I decided to be shameless and pretend I misunderstood. I wanted to know what we'd do right now.
"We could make your deepest desire come true."
I spoke so quietly I was afraid he hadn't heard. He had. But he didn't do what I expected. Kacchan lowered his head and tightened his hands on my waist without moving closer or farther away. He closed his eyes.
"I- Are you sure about this, Deku? You know how complicated this would be? How completely incomprehensible it would be to half the damn school? How... insane?" Kacchan opened his eyes and stared at the floor, trying to steady his breathing.
"Is it insane to you?" He looked at me.
"Of course it is, Deku. Isn't it to you?" I frowned, but not because I was confused. I understood perfectly. This wasn't supposed to happen like this. Why couldn't I be a normal boy?
Kacchan moved closer. "But that doesn't make it bad. This." He meant us. Kacchan took a deep breath before pulling me more firmly into his arms. "I like you too, Deku."
I smiled. Kacchan did too. I put my other hand behind his neck and - screw it, what did I have to lose now? Exactly: nothing - moved closer.
"Scared, Deku?"
"You wish, Kacchan."
Kacchan leaned in and I closed my eyes as his lips met mine. I inhaled shakily through all the anxiety gathered in my chest. My hand moved from his chest to his shoulder and then around his back. Kacchan held me closer, and I kissed him back. And what a kiss. Why hadn't we done this before? If he hadn't been such an unbearable little brat the day we'd met, maybe we could have figured this out years ago.
Kacchan nudged me backward until I bumped lightly against the table holding several plants. One hand came up behind my neck and he kissed me again, more certain this time, all that usual intensity somehow turning soft at the edges. I laughed against his mouth when we finally pulled apart, both of us breathless and red-faced. He rested his forehead against mine.
"Kacchan-" His eyes opened. Slowly, he moved back just enough to look at me. There was a smile on his face. He leaned in for one quick kiss and looked at me again.
"Yes, Izuku?"
My eyes widened. Then I smiled. We probably looked ridiculous, changing moods every two seconds, but I didn't care. This was actually happening.
I looked into his eyes. He seemed to understand exactly what that name had done to me because he only pulled me into a hug, no teasing, no pretending. I gently pulled his face back so he'd look at me.
"Do you want to go to the ball with me?" Kacchan looked surprised and somehow managed to move even closer - if there was any space left between us at all.
"You- Why? You're a champion." For once, he almost looked embarrassed.
"Yeah. And I want you to be my date."
"Please, Deku. You just want an excuse to show off how good I look."
"Hm. I think I'd rather keep how good you look to myself." Kacchan's eyes widened. Then he laughed. Kacchan laughed. Do you understand this? He laughed. And I loved the sound.
"Looks like Kota did his part." My smile disappeared as I tried to understand what he'd just said. What? I must have shown my confusion because he continued.
"I found out he knew where the gillyweed was kept. I told him you were gonna get yourself killed if somebody didn't make sure you had it. Knew he'd help you."
...What?! I couldn't believe it. Every time I thought I liked him, I only became more certain. And more certain that he'd cared about me for longer than I knew. All I could do was smile. So widely my face would probably hate me later, but I didn't care. I wrapped my arms around Kacchan's neck and pulled him into a hug. I rested my head against the space beside his neck and we stayed like that for a while.
Until I started to... Cry. Pathetic, Izuku. I could practically hear Kacchan saying it. He pulled back and looked at me, confused. Almost worried.
"What happened, nerd?" And I cried harder. What was this? Turn off the faucet. He was supposed to tell me I was being stupid, not look at me gently like that. But...
He really liked me. And I really liked him. A ridiculous amount. I had to rescue him from the task. And we hadn't even openly shown anything. I wanted to know what went on inside All Might's head that made him seem like he knew everything.
"Izuku?"
And... I started crying again. Seriously. Someone turn it off. Kacchan kept looking at me until I glanced outside. How long had we been here? My eyes widened and I wiped my tears. I started leaving the greenhouse, pulling him with me.
"For Merlin, Kacchan, look at the time. Do you think we missed Transfiguration? Actually, I'm sure we did. I can't believe this... What?"
"You're kinda cute, Izuku." I blushed violently. His arms wrapped around me again. "You're the champion, freckles, so I have to be the hot one in the relationship."
Relationship.
ϟ
"Tell me, Midoriya, what was my mother thinking when she sent me this? Does she believe I wish to repel every woman who approaches me? I look ridiculous!" I laughed. Or cackled. You decide.
Iida threw a pillow at me. He stared at himself in the mirror, making a strange face. I was already ready. I'd been so nervous that I'd gotten dressed approximately eighty thousand hours early just to make sure I didn't somehow show up looking awful. Because of Kacchan and the champions' dance. Okay, mostly because of Kacchan.
"Iida, that woman is your mother. And besides, you don't exactly need to worry about women approaching you, do you?"
What happened next was the most unexpected and surprising thing possible: Iida confessed to Ochaco. Just like that. It was incredible to watch and more than a little shocking. Nobody expected it. Especially not her. Especially not him. Ochaco quickly canceled her plans with Mirio and would now go to the ball with Iida.
Because of the whole lake situation, Iida was still a little bothered. But Ochaco explained that she'd known Mirio for a while because of a book club and that they'd become close friends, always exchanging letters. A real friendship had formed there. If I hadn't liked Kacchan, the person waiting for me in the lake probably would have been Ochaco or Iida.
"Yes. Quite right." Iida straightened, looking more confident. "And you? Are you nervous?"
"Pff. Of course not." He looked at me. Why did he look at me? My eyes widened and I started sweating. "I'm dying." Iida stared at me.
"Calm down, Midoriya. It is only Bakugo."
"Exactly, Iida. It's Kacchan." Iida moved a little farther away and studied me.
He hadn't taken it particularly well when I told him Kacchan and I had started dating. Ochaco loved it and even said she'd already suspected we were interested in each other. Iida thought it was beyond strange. He simply couldn't understand it. And honestly, I couldn't blame him. But he was trying to get used to it. For me.
When I thought he was about to deliver another speech, he smiled instead. He quickly messed up my hair - I immediately ducked away because, Iida, I need to look presentable - and rested a hand on my shoulder.
"You look good, Midoriya. Do not worry. Bakugo will love it." All I did was smile.
We left the dormitory and went to the Great Hall for the ball. Ochaco had asked us to wait for her there. We were talking to Shoto and Momo when Momo looked toward the staircase and smiled widely.
We all turned to see Ochaco descending the stairs, absolutely stunning. Iida's jaw dropped and I thought he might cry from sheer emotion. He rushed toward her to help with whatever she might possibly need. She looked beautiful. He did too - don't tell him. They were my favorite couple.
I smiled at them as they approached and turned back toward Shoto and Momo, but before I could say anything, I noticed someone coming down the corridor. My heart kicked hard against my ribs.
Kacchan. He was wearing a completely black suit with only a few green details. His blond hair was as wild as ever but somehow deliberately so. He looked much more put together than I did, but I didn't care - as long as nobody tried flirting with him. I'd be watching.
Kirishima walked beside him for part of the corridor, dressed for the ball too, grinning as he said something that made Kacchan shove his shoulder. When Kirishima noticed me, his grin became unbearable.
"Have fun, Bakugo."
"Shut up, Shitty Hair." Kirishima laughed and disappeared toward his own group.
Kacchan reached us with his hands in his pockets and maintained his perfect Slytherin posture until he stopped beside me. He greeted everyone briefly and turned toward me.
"Deku."
"Kacchan."
He offered me his arm. The champions were beginning to line up for the entrance.
At last, he smiled. "Ready?"
I looked at him. What had happened in the last few weeks? A miracle, apparently. Something that had made my life much happier and lighter. Now I had him beside me, whatever happened next. I smiled and held his arm as we entered the Great Hall. Plenty of people who still didn't know our relationship was official stared at us in surprise. But I wasn't there to look at them. I looked at Kacchan. He was already looking at me.
"You look amazing, Kacchan." His expression softened.
"I love you, Izuku."
I nearly stopped walking. Had he actually said that? Could somebody confirm it? Rewind time. My heart felt like it might leap straight out of my mouth. Kacchan only smiled, calm in a way he almost never was. He seemed to already know the answer, because he didn't demand one. But I felt the same way... Right? ...Obviously.
"I love you too, Kacchan."
We took our places with the other three couples in the center of the Great Hall and began the dance. The ball went on beautifully - peaceful, warm, almost impossibly easy.
I didn't take my eyes off Kacchan's for even a second. I had him. And he had me.
Later, when the dance floor opened to everyone, I moved closer to him. My hands rested behind Kacchan's neck and his arms wrapped around my waist. He leaned in and gave me a gentle, affectionate kiss. How I loved that kiss. And him.
We have taken what you'll sorely miss. Now I knew that sentence could mean far more than I'd ever understood.
Kacchan had always been something I missed without even realizing it. And I would miss him through all the years ahead, probably even across the most distant paths our lives could take. We had different realities waiting for us in the future, and no way of knowing exactly what would come.
But now we were together. In every single universe, probably. And nothing was missing. Now I knew.