Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku let the pencil move effortlessly in his hand, allowing the lead to glide smoothly over the clean white paper. With each stroke, he lost himself in his art, letting his imagination lead the way. Occasionally, he stole quick glances at Katsuki, attempting to capture the spirit of his childhood friend in the delicate details of his drawing.

Katsuki was truly amazing. He’s a remarkable athlete. — even being a freshman student, he’s well-known at his school, and extremely talented. He’s known for his impressive plays and skills while on the court, with his fierce determination that no one else had.  He stood at 5’9”, taller than most other freshmen at UA High. His confidence drew attention to him, feeding into his ego. His spiky blonde hair stood sharply against his skin, and his piercing carmine eyes seemed to always burn with strength, power, and ferocity, matching his fiery personality. Katsuki has broad shoulders and a sharp jawline. His features gave him a dominating appearance, making him undoubtedly handsome and captivating, along with a mix of intimidating.

Despite their friendship fading, and a distance growing between them — once the closest of friends, now only distance classmates — Izuku always found himself still drawn to Katsuki, a feeling of yearning. He found time out of his days to sometimes sit in the gym, watching Kacchan practice with his friends— once also Izuku’s, now no longer. Each dribble of the ball, every swift movement Katsuki made on the court, it seemed to draw Izuku in further, he liked to imagine that Kacchan was performing, solely for him. 

Katsuki’s friends, Tesaki and Hasiga were loyal followers of Bakugo; they fed into his ego, mirrored his actions, and followed him like he was the almighty. Izuku loved them as friends, they had confidence and knew how to speak up for themselves; something Izuku struggled to do. However, the bond between Izuku, Hasiga, and Tesaki faded alongside Katsuki’s. They joined Katsuki in bullying Izuku, making it evident that they preferred Katsuki over him. The childhood they all shared, once full of happy memories, was soon filled with memories of bullying, harsh, hurtful comments, and betrayal.

While Izuku drew, the bittersweet memories flooded his thoughts. He thought of the moments of laughter and camaraderie that they all once shared. Izuku is now shadowed by the hurt of their smashed friendship. Yet, no matter how much time has passed, no matter  Katsuki’s flaws, and mistakes, no matter how hurtful Katsuki was, no matter how much pain he felt because of Katsuki, he couldn’t help but still admire him from the sidelines, forever captivated by his raw talent, his passion, everything.

Katsuki Bakugo and his disruptive trio are a group of bastards, a source of annoyance for the people that surround them. Their cocky attitudes and sharp tongues had a talent for pushing people’s buttons. Bakugo, with his explosive personality and big reputation, seemed to instigate chaos wherever he went. His friends, with their cocky demeanors, and annoying teasing and sarcasm forged plenty of enemies. — The group was truly a match made in hell, it seemed as if they were made with bratty, annoying, and misbehaving in mind. 

Despite how disliked they were, they were extremely popular. This only added to the frustration that many already had; it was as if their popularity made them untouchable. If anyone else were to act out as they did, they were bound to face consequences, Bakugo and his trio remained unscathed. This was either due to the fear they inspired or because of Bakugo and the audience he had command over.

People would quietly fume at their foolish behavior, but few dared to confront them, knowing well that the risk of retaliation was far too great. Because of the fear the trio inspired in others, they had power, and privilege that their classmates lacked, making them the bane of irritated classmates.

Katsuki has always performed well in sports, he preoccupied himself with sports since he was a young boy, but he excelled significantly at basketball. He has been on teams since his sixth-grade year in junior high. With each passing year, his skills continued to evolve, and to Izuku, he became greater and greater, and farther away.

His skills are breathtaking, showcasing not only raw talent but also his strategic mind; as Katsuki effortlessly outmaneuvered his opponents. — His capability was evident whenever Izuku watched him play.

Katsuki was almost the ideal example of perfection: an intelligent mind, with sharp features that could be seen as handsome, a body built from hours of training, strength, talent, and confidence. Yet, beneath what could be seen as a flawless exterior lay a significant flaw — his shitty personality. 

His words cut like knives; he spoke with bitterness, leaving no room for vulnerability. For Katsuki, expressing his feelings was impossible. He never cried, never whined, never talked all sappy, he wasn’t weak, and he believed showing any signs of emotion other than anger would be a weakness.

 His struggle with words and feelings often made him push people away, hurting them. — specifically, Izuku Midoriya.

Despite Katsuki’s harshness, Izuku could never hate him. He would never hate Kacchan. 

Izuku sat at the bleachers, sketchbook in lap, and pencil in hand. He watched Katsuki in his element, being captivated by the way Katsuki played, and his mastery that seemed effortless. Katsuki focused keenly on the basket before him, positioning himself with precision, and in one fluid motion, he aimed and released the ball, it soared through the air, inching closer to the hoop. It fell into the hoop, barely grazing the rim, a testament to his precise aim. Before the ball could reach the ground, Katsuki sprinted forward, his movements agile, and he caught it easily mid-air. 

The ball sat snugly between his arm and waist. Katsuki ran his free hand through his tousled hair, pushing his bangs back, revealing the determination and focus he had printed all over his face. The rush of the practice coursed through him, and beads of sweat trickled down his jawline. He panted heavily, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.

“Man! You’re a beast!” Hasiga laughed, clutching his chest, attempting to regain his composure after witnessing an impressive demo of strength and skill from Katsuki. With a spring in his steps, he jogged towards Katsuki.

On the ground, Tesaki lay sprawled out, his hands pressed, fingers splayed, against the dirty gym floor, now coated with sweat. He threw his head back, arching his back in pain and frustration.

“Damn it, Katsuki!” Tesaki shouted.

“Did you have to push me?” His voice was a mix of irritation and disbelief.

Katsuki scowled. “Don’t be so fucking pathetic, little shit.”

Tesaki let out a frustrated sigh, he rolled his eyes, as he pushed himself off the ground, wincing slightly at the ache in his back that lingered from the fall. He grumbled under his breath as he used his right hand to slap the dirt and dust off his shorts. Once he was done, he made his way towards his two friends, each step reminding him of the dull throb in his back.

“If you push any of us during a real game, you’re the one to blame for our failure,” Tesaki muttered, his tone annoyed.

“Whatever, if we lose, it’s because you lack some fucking balls,” Katsuki retorted, a cocky grin spreading across his face. 

Without a second thought, Katsuki aimed and threw the basketball at his innocent friend, Hasiga. The ball struck him squarely in the stomach, knocking the air out of him, and forcing a struggled wheeze from his lips.

Hasiga held the ball firmly in his palms, clenching his jaw because of the twinge. His dark eyes darted up, looking at Katsuki with disbelief and irritation. However, he didn’t retaliate, he was no stranger to Katsuki’s antics. Hasiga knew better than to ever go against Katsuki— after all, Katsuki had muscle, height, and popularity on his side, he was the perfect example of intimidation. 

Hasiga wasn’t short, he just wasn’t as tall as Katsuki. At the humble height of 5’7”, Hasiga was considered average among the other freshmen. But, the confidence and strength of his larger friend, Katsuki, often made him feel weak in comparison. 

Tesaki, while only an inch shorter than Hasiga, at the height of 5’6”, had a more muscular build compared to Hasiga. Hasiga held the leaner appearance and Tesaki held the sturdy one.— And Katsuki, he was greater.

Izuku focused intently on his sketchbook, attempting to make his sketch perfect. On the paper that sat in his lap in front of him, were a few drawings of a certain blonde-haired boy, with a fiery personality, he was no stranger. The intensity of Katsuki’s expression was preserved with each stroke of the pencil.

He had drawn Katsuki in a variety of poses. One was Katsuki standing tall and confident, hands on his hips, and crimson red eyes that blazed with fierceness and determination. Another showed him bent slightly, his palms firmly resting on his knees, his posture looking both relaxed and readiness for action. The last drawing was a chaotic burst of lines and smudges— due to Katsuki’s speed, it left Izuku a sliver of time to be able to visualize him; it was a snapshot of Katsuki mid-motion, his feet were off the ground, throwing the basketball towards the hoop; even on paper, Katsuki still showed strength.

Izuku often found himself drawing little sketches of Katsuki, there was something that made it enjoyable to him. With every detail of Katsuki’s features, Izuku felt as if he was piecing together a puzzle— one that he knew like the back of his hand. His attention flickered back and forth, from his paper then back to Katsuki. 

His brows furrowed in concentration, deep in thought, as the eraser of his pencil tapped against his lips. He let out a disappointed sigh, as he rested his freckled cheek in his palm, focusing intently on his sketch. Something was missing, but, he couldn’t figure it out.

He was then jolted from his trance by a sharp, raspy voice that cut through the quiet in his mind. “The fuck are you doing? You look constipated, or some shit.”

Izuku let out an embarrassing yelp.

In front of him was Katsuki. He stood confidently, arms crossed tightly over his chest, a bored expression plastered onto his face, one brow slightly arched, bringing out the sharpness of his features. 

His spiky hair was slicked back from the humid air, his face glistened with beads of sweat that dripped down his forehead and jawline, highlighting the intensity of their practice. He wore a black tank top, which clung to his toned torso, revealing the hard-earned definition of his muscles. Below, he wore basketball shorts that hung just above his knees, his long socks slid down his calves, leaving a glimpse of his powerful legs, and his black Nike shoes were scuffed from the time on the court, a casual outfit, yet stylish on him. 

Izuku could feel the lump forming in his throat, as he sat, frozen in place, not daring to move. He held his sketchbook tightly to his chest in a protective manner. He bit his bottom lip, averting his gaze, focusing on the ground, the wall, the other students, and everything but the piercing stare of Katsuki Bakugo.

“N-nothing!” He stammered.

Katsuki scoffed, sounding amused. He rolled his eyes in disbelief. “Bullshit,” he replied. His tone dripping with ridicule. 

Without warning, he stepped closer, a predatory glint in his eyes as he snatched the sketchbook effortlessly from Izuku’s hold. 

Izuku’s eyes widened in shock, panic from the thought of Katsuki finding out what he was doing, flooded his system as he lunged forward in an attempt to reclaim the book. But, Katsuki, with a smirk on the corner of his lips, held the book farther, just out of Izuku’s reach. His amusement is clear.

Izuku felt a wave of heat rushing to his cheeks, dropping his hands into his lap, fingers fidgeting nervously. He stared down at his busted red shoes, refusing to meet Katsuki’s gaze— leg bouncing with anxiety, an instinctive reaction to humiliation. 

Izuku was aware that he could never win against Kacchan; it always played the same way, he would attempt to fight back, or at least try to talk back, but Kacchan’s personality was brash, if he were to fight back, he would be met with a shove, and a few hurtful comments. It has always been the same, even in middle school, while now the bitterness died down, Katsuki was still crass.

“Kacchan, just..- give it back.. please” Izuku sighed, feeling defeated, it was evident in his voice as he shuffled his feet, refusing to look up. 

Katsuki paused, he hummed in thought, tapping his chin. Soon, a devilish grin spread across his face. “Nah,” he simply stated, enjoying the discomfort that Izuku showed.

Izuku bit his lip, his grip tightened on the fabric of his pants, knuckles going white. He prepared himself for the avoidable embarrassment that was bound to come. 

His mind began to spiral, he thought of the many scenarios that could happen: Kacchan would yell at him, embarrassing and exposing him in front of the many students in the gym, laugh at him for being weird, throw his sketchbook, or shove him to the ground. 

But to Izuku’s surprise, nothing happened like he imagined. 

For a moment, Izuku hesitated. — He didn't want to imagine the disgusted look on the older boy's face. — However, he couldn't help but want to know. Cautiously, he looked up, meeting the gaze of Katsuki's intense, red eyes. — They were narrowed in scrutiny, as he observed the drawing sprawled across the pages of Izuku's red, dirty, sketchbook.

Katsuki's jaw was clenched, and his brows were knitted together; forming a fierce expression on his face. — The look on Katsuki's face wasn't disgust or anger, it was something else, something else that Midoriya Izuku couldn't comprehend. 

Katsuki scoffed to himself, before throwing the red sketchbook back into Izuku's lap.

His hand rested on his hip, and his glare was intense, as it focused solely on his childhood friend. — red eyes locked in a tense standoff with wide, green ones. 

Their eye contact remained, and soon, the noises in the background began to fade, once loud, now fading into a distant murmur, leaving just the two of them, stuck with their thoughts about one another. It was silent— well, just between them, the other students remained loud, but for the two boys, it was completely silent. — So silent, that it weighed heavily between them.

The silence was soon cut off by a sharp, raspy voice. "You're a little fanboy stalker, aren't you? Shitty  Deku," Katsuki scoffed, accusation in his tone. His teeth gritted against each other as he spoke. 

Izuku's eyes widened. "W-what?! No! I- I just-"

"Do you think I'm fucking blind, Deku? I can feel your creepy eyes on me the whole time," He paused, "I know your stupid look so much, that I can fucking sense it now, it's fucking weird."

Izuku gulped.

Katsuki scoffed, leaning forward slightly, placing his hands firmly on his knees, bringing his face to the same level as Izuku's. The closeness and the tension made Izuku's heart thump; it felt as if it was about to burst out of his chest. 

"You're analyzing everything I do, Deku, you look like a damn stalker.— Watching me with a book in your lap. Y'know, if you were a stranger, I would've thought you were planning to murder me and call the cops." 

Izuku blushed, Katsuki was right. — From Katsuki's perspective, he did look like a stalker. 

"You never know when to quit, huh? What's it gonna take for me to finally get rid of you?" he paused. "You're fucking annoying me." 

Those harsh words hit Izuku like a cold wave, it left him speechless— just in that moment. He swallowed hard, feeling both, embarrassed, and hurt. — Katsuki was always harsh, but, it still stung. "Sorry, Kacchan," he mumbled, his voice soft, and barely above a whisper. He averted his gaze, now staring at the ground. "I just... admire your skill.— you know how much I admire you."

Katsuki remained silent, his lips pressed into a thin line. He struggled and fought against the words that nearly escaped his lips, swallowing hard. He felt a flush of anger, — but, that wasn't the only feeling, there was something else. He felt it as he processed his childhood friend's admiring gaze. 

"Katsuki, let's go!" Tesaki's voice echoed, breaking the tension between the two.

Katsuki let out an annoyed scoff; as if he had just gotten interrupted. "Don't tell me what to fucking do!" Katsuki shot back, his voice was laced with irritation. He gave Izuku one last glance before standing up straight, and making his way towards his two friends; Tesaki and Hasiga.

Izuku watched as Katsuki got farther away, his heart raced, wanting to break out of his chest. Kacchan's reaction was one that he hadn't anticipated. — it was calm— well, at least calmer than usual, at least for Bakugo Katsuki.

"So" Kasiga trailed out, "What were you guys talking about? — you and the nerd." he asked, his hands resting behind his head, beads of sweat trickling down the side of his neck.

Tesaki nodded. "Oh yeah, you scared that nerd shitless," He laughed, "He was trembling like crazy,— you would think he finally grown a pair, but guess not" Tesaki shrugged, taking a swig from his plastic water bottle. — The clear liquid spilled over the top and his lips, dripping down his jaw.

"Nothing, Katsuki replied tersely. He deliberately avoided his friends' eye contact, his gaze fixed ahead. 

Tesaki was doubtful— he raised an eyebrow skepticism etched across his brow. "Yeah, okay.." he replied, the doubt evident in his tone as he scanned Katsuki's features. 

He sighed, still not removing his gaze off Katsuki, as he crushed the now empty plastic bottle in his palms, and then tossed it into the nearest trashcan. 

"Keep your shitty eyes off of me, bitch." Katsuki growled.

Tesaki snorted, unphased by the hostility. "Yeah, whatever man, let's hit the bar and pick up some ladies, yeah?" he offered, a cheeky smirk on his face.

Katsuki stopped in his tracks, almost causing his friends to stumble from the sudden halt in his movements. "You want to get kicked out of the fucking team? shit head." He scowled.

Tesaki rolled his eyes, exaggerating the eye roll, then shrugged, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. "Whatever, dude. Let's just go to the arcade then." He sighed, then glanced over to Kasiga for his support. "Right? sounds fun?" 

"Sure, I'm down for whatever," Kasiga replied with a shrug. There was a grin forming on his lips at the thought of some friendly competition. 

Katsuki clenched his jaw and then let out an annoyed sigh. "Whatever."

-----

"Izuku baby?"

Izuku shook his head, snapping himself out of the haze that had completely consumed his thoughts. He lifted his head, looked around, and found himself in the familiar warmth of his dining room. His gaze stopped and found itself fixed on the figure sitting in front of him. — a beautiful lady whose long, tied-up, green hair matched his own. She bore the same large, expressive eyes, that Izuku held, but hers were full of concern.

"Izuku sweetie, you've been staring at your food.. you haven't even touched it." Her frown deepened. "Are you okay, honey?"

Izuku's gaze fell, there sat a bowl of Katsudon sitting untouched. The golden-brown crust of the pork was inviting him in. — Usually, he would've swallowed the whole bowl in seconds, but it's been minutes, and it was still there. 

Had he gotten distracted by Katsuki Bakugo? How could he forget about his favorite food? His stomach churned, but, not from the hunger that was catching up to him, but because of the thoughts of his childhood, blonde, best friend. 

The memory of their encounter at school replayed in Izuku's head repeatedly. — each time it replayed it seemed to be more bewildering than the last. — He didn't know why that distracted him so much.. was it because of the unexpected, calm reaction? or was it Kacchan himself..?

Izuku was starting to realize, that Katsuki was growing, he was maturing. The older boy was leaving his old, brash, personality in middle school. — Yes, he was still harsh, he threw jabs here and then, and called Izuku hurtful names and his attitude was still the same, but, he wasn't as hostile as he was in middle school. Even if it wasn't much, Izuku couldn't help but feel a bit shocked by how composed Katsuki had been.

"Sorry, Mom, I was just.. thinking," Izuku said softly, forcing a laugh and giving his mother an apologetic smile.

Inko Midoriya, his mother, let out a deep sigh. The corners of her mouth twitched downwards, "You haven't even tried to touch your food. — are you still going to eat it?" She asked, tone gentle, but it was nearly impossible not to detect the underlying sadness in her voice.

Guilt washed over Izuku like a wave. — When he got home, he was greeted with his mother's cheerful demeanor. He could remember the excitement in her tone as he told him she had made him his favorite dish. — Izuku felt a twinge in his heart, knowing how hard she worked, often returning home exhausted from all the labor, yet, she still found the energy to cook for him. 

"No no, Mom! I'm going to eat it!" Izuku shook his head, grabbing his chopsticks with determination, and digging into the Katsudon.— The food was cold; after all, it's been sitting for a while now. Yet, despite how cold it was, it still tasted amazing; bursting with flavor. "It's amazing!" He exclaimed with a huge smile.

The moment those words escaped Izuku's lips, Inko's mood was immediately lifted. She clasped her hands together, a huge smile blooming on her face.

"I'm glad you like it!" She beamed. "I was starting to think you didn't like Katsudon anymore— I'm glad you still enjoy my cooking, Izuku."

The Midoriya household had always radiated happiness. The walls would always echo with laughter, — and even guest who came around would always leave with a smile on their faces. The Midoriya's cheerfulness was contagious. 

After finishing his homemade meal, Midoriya Izuku collected the dirty dishes off the table — Inko protested playfully, insisting on letting her clean, but, he argued playfully, telling her to relax. Soon, she gave up and allowed Izuku to take the dirty plates and bowls. 

Once everything was washed, scrubbed, and put away, Izuku dried his hands on his clothes. "I'll be in my room," he called out, heading towards his bedroom door.

"Okay!" His mother replied, cheerfully.

As he stood before his bedroom door, his hand hovering over the doorknob, Izuku's gaze fell on a handmade sign that hung on his door.— it was bright yellow, blue, red, and white— a vivid display of colors.— On the sign was his name, poorly drawn on; the handwriting was messy, childish, and hard to read. — It was evident that it was written by a child; hence the letters varying sizes; some letters larger and some smaller than others. 

It was childish— well to anyone else— but, to Izuku, it was something very special. It held an immense significance to Izuku's life— it wasn't just a silly old sign; it was a treasure, a keepsake he held very dearly. — after all, Kacchan had made it for him.

His brows creased as he frowned, nostalgia washing over him. He missed those innocent days when he and Kacchan were inseparable, laughing and exploring the world as silly little kids. — He missed the park adventures, the sleepovers, the silly shared secrets they told each other, arguing over who played All Might; a fictional hero in a childhood show they both watched. — This was all a distant memory now.

He missed Kacchan.

No. Izuku Misses Kacchan.

----

Izuku had fallen asleep but awoke to his phone buzzing like crazy. — Notifications popped up on his screen, flooding his phone. — Groggily, he picked up his phone, then began to read the messages, despite his vision still being hazy.

Uraraka: IZUKUUUU

Uraraka: IZUUK.

Uraraka: IZUUU

Uraraka: ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW

Uraraka: If you dont answer me right now I am going to jump and die and cry and everythng

Uraraka: ......

Uraraka: ok. so you want me to die 

Shinsou: I do

Uraraka: first of all, I DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR OPI

Uraraka: OPNIONDF

Uraraka: OPINION

Uraraka: second of all, GO DIE

Shinsou: u first

Shinsou: bitch.

Shoto: Hello.

Tokoyami: Midoriya?? 

Tokoyami: wya? shes going insane

Shinsou: hes probably fucking sleeping

Shinsou: just like how I was before i was rudely interrupted 

Shinsou: BY A BIG BTIVCH

Uraraka: I WEIGH ESS THAN YOYU

Uraraka: LESS

Shinsou: no

Uraraka: well go back to sleep, you clearly need it, eyebags :/

Shinsou: bitch.

Uraraka: xx

Shinsou: well I cant sleep now, brokie

Izuku rubbed his eyes, tiredly, before finally replying.

Izuku: Hey guys! Sorry! I was sleeping :)

Uraraka: oh.. 

Uraraka: :)

Shinsou: told you.

Shinsou: impatient

Uraraka: sybau

Uraraka: Anyways! do you guys wanna hang out today??

Tokoyami: cant, I have a recital in a few weeks.

Tokoyami: I have to practice the electric guitar

Kuraikage: dont be a boring bastard toko

Kuraikage: im down and ill take tokoyami with me

Kuraikage: trust

Tokoyami: no.

Shinsou: oh fuck na

Uraraka: :(

Uraraka: COME ONE GUYS

Uraraka: COME ON*

Uraraka: ITS FRIDAY

Uraraka: PELASASS

Tokoyami: fine

Uraraka: hip hip hooray

Izuku: where are we going?

Uraraka: THE ARCADE

Uraraka: PELASE

Shinsou: sounds lame

Izuku: it sounds fun! don't be so rude Shinsou >:(

Shinsou: sorry broke girl

Uraraka: apology NOT accepted

Shoto: I'll go.

Uraraka: awesome sauce :3 bring that card shoto!!

Shoto: Ok. 👌

Shoto: On my way!

Uraraka: ....

Shinsou: Shoto and his auto caps, and shortcuts against the world

Kuraikage: he doesnt know how to turn it off

Kuraikage: LMFfo

Kuraikage: KMFA

Kuraikage: LMFAO

Izuku: guys leave him alone

Uraraka: OKAY WHOSE GOING??? @ everyone

----

Izuku had met up with his friends at the arcade, wearing a comfortable, yet, stylish outfit. — he wore a plain white T-shirt that fit him perfectly, pairing it with a dark green, plaid, flannel shirt that hung open. Below, he wore soft beige jeans, providing him with a relaxed outfit — baggy enough to be comfortable, which Izuku preferred. 

To accessorize, he wore a few simple bracelets that added a personal touch to his look. On his feet were his beloved, worn-out, old, red shoes. The scuffs and faded fabric were enough to tell stories of the countless adventures he had been on in these shoes.— Despite the shoes ruining his outfit, he still loved to wear them; they held an emotional significance to him. — In fact, he could never imagine a day without his beloved, big, red shoes.

The group consisted of his friends Shoto Todoroki, Ochaco Uraraka, Hitoshi Shinsou, and Kuraikage and Tokoyami; the jet-black hair, raven twins, who were rarely seen apart. Despite the huge group and the excitement that was overwhelming them, it was a shame that not everyone could come. — Iida had sent a polite message apologizing, he explained that he needed to discuss matters with his coach. — An assiduous student and athlete, Iida was always busy, and everyone knew that, so they didn't bug Iida about it that much. — Hatsume, on the other hand, was hard at work in her workshop. She was always inventing, and despite her young age, she was a hard worker.— While her friends begged her to join them, Izuku knew that Hatsume's passion was big, and he didn't bug her. — soon they gave up, and let her continue her work.

Asui had explained that she was spending time with her family, and apologized, promising to join them next time. — the group didn't protest at this, understanding— family time was important.— Then, there was Aoyama, he wasn't even in town, he was in France.

"Man!.." Uraraka exclaimed with a drawn-out sigh, her voice tinged with disappointment. "I was really looking forward for all of us to hang out together.."

Izuku chuckled lightly. "It's okay Uraraka-san, next time let's plan a hangout that everyone can be here for." he paused. "Even Aoyama."

"Let's do something, I'm bored as shit." Shinsou yawned, stretching his arms above his head, causing the bottom of his shirt to lift slightly; revealing a hint of his lean figure. 

"Seriously? You sleep like— I dunno, 12 hours a day... how can you still be tired?" Kuraikage teased, a playful smirk on his face.

"12 hours too little." Shinsou scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"Envelop yourself in darkness," Tokoyami interjected.

"I wish," Shinsou sighed. "If I could do that, I would fall into a deep, deep sleep, where nobody could wake me up." He rubbed his temple. "Actually, I should be doing that right now.— instead of being at this damn arcade."

"That's called death, emo" Uraraka shot back playfully, a teasing lilt in her voice as she wrinkled her nose at him.

"Death, eternal sleep, whatever, as long as I'm not interrupted, I could care less," Shinsou grunted, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans, appearing unfazed. 

Izuku watched his friends interact with one another — their personalities were all unique, and diverse. Yet, they complemented one another. — Each of them followed their own unique passions: Uraraka and Asui were a great volleyball duo at school, while Tokoyami was an excellent guitarist; a lead guitarist in a band. — Kuraikage was talented too, he played in the basketball team— for Katsuki's team. Shinsou, despite his lazy demeanor, was also talented, he was a skilled soccer player who played on the same team as Shoto Todoroki, they were an undefeated duo in their school. — Hatsume was even greater, probably more impressive than them all; she was rapidly gaining recognition for her engineering prowess, and Aoyama.. well, he's rich, and always traveling. 

Despite the lively atmosphere surrounding them, Izuku felt a sense of dissonance within himself. Unlike his friends, each of whom had clear talents or interests that made them all unique, he felt ordinary. — drawing was his escape, but it didn't seem to hold the same allure or recognition as sports, music, or inventing. — he was plain. — It nagged at him, a longing for a talent to emerge, something that would allow him to be just as great as his friends.

Just as great as Kacchan.

——

The group had spent their time at the arcade huddled around vibrant, blinking arcade machines, their laughter ringing through the air. — they were the loudest group there. — They were extremely lucky to have Shoto Todoroki with them, whose seemingly endless supply of his father's money made the day all the more enjoyable. — Shoto was loaded.

Izuku's friends were all alive with energy, even Shinsou. — they bickered and hit each other with playful jabs, sometimes arguing over the stupidest things. — it never escalated though, they were just being playful.

At the center of this friendly chaos were the twins; Kuraikage and Tokoyami. — Currently, they were locked in a heated argument over a challenging, two-player game.

"You're shit at this!" Kuraikage shouted as he gripped the arcade controls with determination, there was frustration painted all over his face.

"Fuck!" he groaned loudly. "Give me a better teammate! Mine is fucking ass!" he yelled as he slammed his hands down on the machine as the screen flashed big and bold letters that said "Game Over," this sent Kuraikage into a mock fury.

"Guess who's still alive," Tokoyami snorted, his voice dripping with a playful sarcasm as he leaned back with a cocky smirk. "Not you."

That was the last straw. 

"You little shit-" Kuraikage growled, his tone was half-serious, but was also laced with amusement.

Before anyone could stop the taller, Kuraikage had launched himself towards his shorter brother.

Izuku couldn't help but laugh at the brothers' antics. He watched from a safe distance, careful not to get involved in the bickering. — Kuraikage's arm was wrapped loosely around Tokoyami's neck. — The sheer size difference between them was now extremely evident. — Kuraikage exuded an air of confidence, his muscular frame dwarfing his brother, but he was careful not to choke the breath out of Tokoyami, who, despite the playful struggle, looked as though he didn't even regret ticking off his brother. 

A few minutes passed, and Tokoyami was giving up.— he tapped lightly on Kuraikage's arm, indicating that Kuraikage had won.— Tokoyami wasn't weak, he had muscles too, but compared to his athlete brother, he was weak. 

"You really are pathetic," Kuraikage teased, before finally releasing his hold on his shorter brother who took a deep breath, relieved, yet, unbothered.

Despite the two being twins, Kuraikage and Tokoyami were extremely different from one another — personality, and appearance. — They both had striking red eyes, pale skin, and dark jet-black hair, but that was their only similarity.

Tokoyami was shorter, he stood at a mere 5'4", an inch below Izuku's own height of 5'5". — In contrast, Kuraikage towered at an impressive 6 feet, his height accentuated by his athletic build as a member of the basketball team. 

Tokoyami wasn't short, well- he was close to average height for his age— his brother was just tall.

Their clothing styles also contrasted with one another. Tokoyami preferred dark, baggy clothing, adorned with bracelets and rings that whispered of his quiet yet, edgy persona. — His hair was a mess, and he had a more laid-back aesthetic.

Kurikage, however, preferred having his hair in a slicked-back hairstyle, and an earring in one ear. He was often seen wearing fitted tank tops or T-shirts that showcased his athletic build. He thrived in the spotlight, his loud personality contrasting starkly with his brother's quieter demeanor. 

As Izuku observed the twins bicker, a wave of nostalgia washed over him, sending a pang of longing through his chest. — the playful remarks coming from Kuraikage reminded him of a similar dynamic that he had with someone. — Katsuki— Kacchan.— They shared a similar dynamic.— The light, silly arguments that they once shared before they drifted apart. — Izuku couldn't help but think about how much he missed that connection they once had.— Despite the bullying, and the distance between them, growing, he never truly hated Kacchan. — No, Izuku respected and admired him more than anyone — more than that hero in his childhood show— All Might— more than himself.— Kacchan was always his number one. 

"Midoriya?" A voice broke through his reverie.

Startled, Izuku turned his head to find Shoto Todoroki standing beside him. Despite Todoroki's usual nonchalant demeanor, there was clear concern etched on his face. His multi-colored eyes were low, soft, and caring, and his striking hair flowed in a messy, yet, charming way, and his height of 5'9" made him tower over Izuku slightly.

"Todoroki-kun, hey," Izuku greeted softly, forcing a smile as he looked up at his taller friend, feeling grateful for the distraction.

"You alright? you've been zoning out a lot," Todoroki replied, his tone laced with genuine concern.

Izuku let out a quiet laugh, though it held no humor. — This was now the second time that he had drifted off in thought, his mind betraying him as it wandered back to Kacchan. —  He should be focused on spending time with his friends, yet, it was solely on Kacchan.

"Yes, sorry, Todoroki-kun. It's nothing," 

Todoroki's expression seemed doubtful, his brows furrowing as he observed Izuku's face for any hint of the emotions swirling within him. 

"Midoriya, sorry, no offense, but you're bad at hiding your feelings, " he paused, "Especially with that muttering habit of yours." 

Ah. Of course.

Izuku sighed internally— he had always been open about his emotions, so when he tried to keep his feelings bottled up, his friends would always be quick to notice. — and deep down, he was grateful for this; it showed that they cared and noticed when something was wrong. 

However, sometimes, it was better if they didn't notice.

"Sorry, you're right, I was just.. thinking," he admitted.

Todoroki nodded, not surprised. His lips were pressed together in thought. "Don't apologize, is everything good?"

Izuku hesitated for a bit— but, he knew Todoroki wasn't the type to tell everyone about his problems, "Well, it's about Kacchan." He confessed, barely audible.

Todoroki's gaze intensified, fixating on Izuku, without uttering a single word— which wasn't odd; Todoroki was usually always this quiet. 

"Sorry to worry you Todoroki-kun." Izuku apologized, attempting to lighten the heavy air that had settled between them. "I'm okay," he added.

Todoroki didn't respond, his eyes still on Izuku. — Izuku swallowed the lump in his throat and laughed softly. "Well- I'm just going to get some snacks."

Todoroki nodded again, there was still concern lingering in his multi-colored eyes. — it was clear that he felt a bit hurt by the fact that Izuku wasn't opening up to him, — yet, he remained quiet, refusing to bother his friend.

"Want me to pay?" He asked as he was about to reach for his wallet.

"No no! it's okay! I'll be quick, just tell the others I'll be back," Izuku interjected a huge grin on his face, feeling a bit lighter.

Izuku chuckled softly, touched by his friend's thoughtfulness. Todoroki was always looking out for them, whether it was concerning their well-being or offering to treat them to something. — he made it a point to be there for his friends, despite him not being able to show his emotions as well as they did.

----

Izuku Midoriya tapped his finger against the bottom of his chin, thoughtfully. — He was deciding on which snack to get from the vending machine, it was a hard choice, but, there was a specific treat that seemed to catch his attention the most. — His gaze lingered on a bright, colorful bag of sugar candy, the vibrant packaging was basically calling to him. — The thought of tearing the bag open and devouring it in seconds sounded like a dream to Izuku. — The only thing stopping him was the glass barrier.

Excited, Izuku rummaged through his pocket for some coins and then inserted them into the slot. He listened to the satisfying clink as the money dropped down, barely containing his excitement. 

Izuku pressed the button corresponding to the sugar candy. — the candy was pushed forward, pressing snugly against the glass. — It was almost his. — But, before he could get his sugary snack, disaster struck. — the bag had gotten stuck. — Izuku's jaw dropped in disbelief, he felt betrayed.— How could this happened? — He quickly snapped his mouth shut, his eyes narrowing in frustration as he glared at the snack, that now seemed to be out of reach.

"My money.. and my dreams, they're all gone!" he cried dramatically as he stared at the delicious bag of candy. He sighed to himself, shutting his eyes and then tilting his head down in despair.

Suddenly, a voice broke through his dramatic misery. — the voice was rough and commanding.

"Shake it."

Startled, Izuku looked up to see his childhood best friend — Katsuki Bakugo. He stood before him, leaning casually against the vending machine, his posture was both relaxed and confident. — The sight of his classmate made Izuku's heart race — for an entirely different reason.

Katsuki's hands were shoved deep into the pockets of his grey and red varsity Jacket. — This jacket, adorned with the name " Bakugo Katsuki" embedded across the back, and behind the name was a big and bold number one, a testament to his status being the number one athlete— well, In Katsuki's perspective, that's what the number stood for. — Stitched on the sleeves were the letters "UA," a badge of honor showcasing their prestigious high school. On the front, over his heart, were the words "Team Captain." — Making his role evident.

"K-Kacchan!" Izuku stammered

"D-Deku!" Katsuki repeated, mocking him. — his eyebrow raised in challenge.

Izuku shook it off. "What are you doing here" He asked, still a bit stunned from the encounter. — he never thought he would run into Katsuki in a place like this. — He figured he was always training.

"Can I not come here?" sorry, maybe I should ask for your permission first," Katsuki retorted, a snide tone lacing his words. He leaned down slightly, to meet Izuku at eye level, there was a mischievous glint in his fierce look. 

"What, you think you're all mighty now?" His expression turned serious, brows furrowing in annoyance. 

Izuku felt his throat go dry, his anxiety spiking. "N-No! it's not like that, Kacchan!," He stumbled over his words, desperate not to incite the athlete's temper.

Katsuki fell silent for a moment, then straightened up to his full height, now towering over Izuku.— He delivered a hard hit to the side of the vending machine.

"Come on, shake the damn machine, get your shitty snack." He ordered, a confident grin spreading across his face, laced with something else.

Izuku frowned, then shook his head. "Kacchan, no."

Katsuki scoffed. "Kacchan, no?" he repeated, "What am I? A dog?— don't order me around, Deku." 

Izuku sighed. "It wasn't like that Kacchan."

"I won't shake the machine, that's not right." Izuku protested, earning a snort from Katsuki.

The blond athlete rolled his eyes, dismissing the protest. "Deku, there's no fucking way you're scared to shake the fucking vending machine. — are you a fucking pussy?"

Izuku furrowed his brows. "I'm not a—" he paused. "I'm not scared, it's just wrong." He insisted, yet the stumbled in his voice betrayed him. "I just follow the rules," he grumbled. "You're not allowed to do that, you could get into trouble— or even worse, hurt yourself."

Katsuki huffed a laugh. "Seriously? You can't even bring yourself to say 'pussy'? How pathetic Deku." he raised a brow, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Fucking nerd," he sighed, shaking his head as if he were dealing with a bothersome pest. "Out of my way, Deku."

With that, Katsuki pushed past Izuku, shoving him to the side, earning an annoyed yelp and protest from his shorter friend.— Ignoring the protesting from the freckled boy, Katsuki inserted a crumpled bill into the vending machine and pressed the button designated for a granola bar. — With a satisfying 'thunk', the granola bar dropped into the compartment below — but, the sugary treat remained lodged.

"Okay, so.. that thing hates me and has favorites," Izuku grumbled.

Katsuki snorted, a confident smirk stretching across his face. "Well, I'm Bakugo Katsuki, I can do everything." — he shoved the granola bar into his pockets, and with that, he grabbed onto both sides of the vending machine, his grip was firm. — he then shook it vigorously. — Izuku's eyes widened in horror.

"Kacchan, you can't do that!"

Finally stopping his assault on the machine, Katsuki raised his fist against the glass and slammed it. — For a moment, nothing happened, but then the machine released Izuku's prize: a colorful bag filled with a sugary treat. — It tumbled into the compartment and Izuku's mood was immediately lifted. 

Katsuki turned his attention back to his own snack, pulling the bar out of his pocket, ripping the wrapper open, and taking a bite, before turning his head back to Izuku, who stood there, happy. 

"Seriously, candy?" Katsuki raised a brow, his tone was dripping with sarcasm as he stared at Izuku up and down.

Izuku frowned, "Kacchan, sorry, but everyone gets candy," he defended then motioned toward the granola bar clutched in Katsuki's palm. "Who actually gets granola bars? those are so.. weird."

"Someone as cool, strong, handsome, and buff as me," Katsuki replied, rolling his eyes dramatically as he flexed his biceps, the movement accompanied by a proud, cocky smirk, — highlighting his undeniable confidence. "Something you can't relate to, shitty Deku."

Izuku rolled his eyes playfully. "Kacchan, I have muscles too, not just you."

"No."

"no? C'mon Kacchan.."

"You wish."

Izuku laughed softly then narrowed his eyes. "Granola bars are so boring." 

Katsuki crossed his arms in return, a teasing scowl forming on his face. "You're boring," he shot back, his tone sharp.

Izuku frowned, "You're harsh, you know that?" he replied, feeling the sting of Katsuki's words. "Why can't you ever be nice."

"You're not worth being nice to," Katsuki replied harshly. — Izuku stood there, silent his lips pressed together.

With an exaggerated eye roll, Katsuki leaned back against the vending machine, arms still crossed over his chest, his sharp gaze traveling up and down his childhood friend. — He was observing him with a mix of annoyance and curiosity as if trying to figure out what shifted Izuku to be quiet. 

Annoyed by the silence, Katsuki bit the inside of his cheek and exhaled a heavy sigh. "I was just fucking joking, y'know" he replied, his tone softening just a notch. "Don't be so dramatic, Deku."

Izuku nodded slowly, the tension was starting to ease. — Though Katsuki had a huge reputation for being harsh and his personality often leaned toward the cruel side, Izuku understood that beneath that rough exterior, there was still a teenage boy who cared about others — he just struggled to show it. 

"Where are your shitty little friends?" Katsuki asked, his voice still sharp as a blade.— His tone was familiar as ever, harsh, biting, and full of disdain. 

"Don't tell me you came here alone," Katsuki continued, a laugh escaping his lips, devoid of any humor. He paused, his piercing gaze locked onto Izuku, his brows furrowing in suspicion. "Or.. you came here with a date?"

Heat rushed to Izuku's cheeks, his face turning red. "N-no! I came here with my friends, it's not like that Kacchan!" he stammered as he desperately tried to defend himself.

Katsuki arched a brow, amused by the reaction, and then it soon turned into a skeptical expression. "Right." He snorted, sounding doubtful. "Where are they then?"

Izuku shifted slightly, a soft smile creeping onto his freckled face. "Ah- well- they shouldn't be too far, I told them I was getting a snack.. well- I told Todoroki-kun, so he probably told them! But well- you get it, he told them, and they probably know, so basically I told them I was getting a snack, y'kno-"

"You're muttering" Katsuki interjected.

Izuku gulped. "Sorry!, well! last time I saw them, Kuraikage and Tokoyami were fighting over a game."

Katsuki nodded. "Hah, so shitty earrings is here."

Izuku blinked, confused. "Earrings?"

Katsuki scoffed, then rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that emo bastard is always wearing an earring in his ear, it's like he thinks it makes him look cool or some shit."

Izuku nodded. "So, it's earring, not earrings- well I mean, you see, he only wears one, so it's singular,— 'earrings' is plural, meaning more than one— well you probably already know that, you're smart— but, it doesn't make sense to call him 'earrings' if he doesn't have more than one earring in his ear — it makes more sense— but! It's not like I'm trying to correct you, I jus-" 

Katuki's sliver of patience thinned. "If you keep muttering like a fucking idiot, I think I'm going to cut my fucking ears off.— then I'll shove this damn granola bar down your throat, so you shut the fuck up." His brows were knitted together in annoyance.

"Sorry!" Izuku yelped as he instinctively took a step back, he was treating Katsuki as if he were a volcano— threatening to erupt. 

"Now quit talking to me, Deku." Katsuki straightened up, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Shoo, find your shitty little friends.— I have no time for you."

"Kacchan," Izuku paused. "You talked to me first, so what does that even mean?"

Katsuki gritted his teeth, glaring at Izuku. "Deku," he warned.

Izuku gulped at the intensity of Katsuki's glare, the air between them thick. — breaking the awkward silence, he laughed nervously.  "Sorry."

Suddenly, a familiar, cheerful, feminine voice called out. "Izuku!"

Turning around, he spotted his friends making their way toward him through the crowd— they pushed their way through. — Uraraka was beaming proudly, she held several plushies that she had won from the games.— Tokoyami was focused on his phone, and Kuraikage had his arm draped around Tokoyami's shoulder as he leaned down, trying to peer at the screen, clearly intrigued. 

Behind them, Todoroki carried a few more prizes that Uraraka had won, flanked by the others that she had purchased with tickets. — meanwhile, Shinsou, walked beside them, his hands pocketed, clearly uninterested in helping them carry items.

"There are your shitty friends, now leave me alone, shit nerd," Katsuki bit out, annoyance etched on his face.

"Yo cap!" Kuraikage called out, his eyes lifting from Tokoyami's screen to catch Katsuki's gaze. A friendly grin spread onto his face.

Katsuki simply nodded in acknowledgment. 

Izuku turned back to Katsuki and smiled brightly. "Bye, Kacchan, I enjoyed your company."

"Yeah, bye, Deku," Katsuki responded gruffly — his tone softer than before, yet, it still tinged with irritation. 

----

"Where'd you go, man? You said you were just getting a snack, then you vanished," Kasiga said, casually striding alongside Katsuki and Tesaki as they strolled out of the brightly lit arcade, the sounds of laughter and games fading behind them.

"Don't tell me you found some ladies and—" Tesaki began to tease, but he was abruptly cut off by a low, menacing growl from Katsuki.

"I didn't do anything," Katsuki snapped back, his tone sharper than intended. "I saw Kuraikage and talked to him." He purposely left out the part about his encounter with the nerd, hoping to avoid further questions.

"Okay, okay, jeez," Tesaki chuckled, shaking his head as he tried to hide a grin. "By the way, I saw Midoriya with his friends too," he added.

Katsuki clenched his jaw.

"Kuraikage was with them too..." he said slowly, deflecting his gaze to the pathway ahead, searching for something to occupy his thoughts. He paused for a moment, mulling over the implications. "Did you talk to Midoriya?" he asked, as curiosity got the better of him.

Katsuki bit down on the inside of his cheek, feeling the sting but ignoring it as he processed his thoughts.

"no."

----

"Iida W-wait!" Izuku cried as he desperately pulled at his hand, attempting to free it from Iida's firm hold. — Izuku could feel the pressure around his wrist as Iida held it tightly.

"I cannot," Iida insisted. 

Izuku was confused, they were 15 minutes away from school, and their first period didn't start for another 40 minutes. — Iida's rush made it seem as if there was something big going on, — or, if he was a soldier and he was on a critical assignment.

"But Iida!!' Izuku cried. "You have an hour before you meet with your coach," Izuku panted as he struggled to keep up with his taller, 6-foot friend. "Plus, why am I being dragged with you? I don't even do track!"

Without warning, they came to an abrupt halt. Izuku doubled over, gasping for air, his chest heaving. — Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, leaving small splats on the concrete floor. Izuku leaned against his knees, clutching his stomach, he felt as if he were to collapse from the exertion.

"Iida, we have 40 minutes until class starts," Izuku wheezed.

"Responsible students should always aim to arrive 10 minutes early," Iida explained, his voice steady.— Izuku couldn't help but admire Iida's dedication, but right now, it was overwhelming.

"Just go, I'll catch up." Izuku managed to gasp, and without hesitation, Iida bolted, his figure quickly disappearing into the distance.

Izuku took five long minutes to gather himself, taking deep breaths to steady his racing heart before finally setting off toward the direction of his school. As he walked, he spotted Bakugo Katsuki standing a few paces ahead, his hands buried deep in his pockets, headphones securely in place, and his backpack slung lazily over one shoulder.

With determination, Izuku quickened his pace, instinctively stepping in front of Bakugo. He spun around enthusiastically, a wide grin breaking across his face. "Hi, Kacchan!" he chirped an air of optimism in his voice.

Katsuki yanked an earbud out of his ear and shot him a scowl, his features fierce and intimidating. "Deku."

Izuku nodded.

He didn't know what possessed him to even talk to the blonde— Katsuki was likely to explode at any moment, and Izuku would be the first one to be attacked. 

"Fuck do you want?" Katsuki growled, his brows furrowing in irritation.

"Also," he paused. "Don't walk in front of me!" Katsuki barked, immediately quickening his pace to get in front of his childhood friend.

Izuku couldn't help but let out a laugh. Kacchan was still the same—always wanting to be in front, refusing to let anyone walk in front of him. 

"Can I walk with you?" Izuku asked, his smile brightening as he tried to match Katsuki's pace, glancing up to admire his friend's sharp features.

Katsuki scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "No way in hell."

"Come on!" Izuku pleaded, determination in his eyes.

Katsuki clenched his jaw in frustration as he quickened his pace, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the quiet street. He was determined to shake off the nagging presence of Izuku, who he could feel trailing behind him. 

However, Izuku was as stubborn as ever, he refused to back down. He drew in a deep breath and picked up his pace, to catch up with Katsuki. A determined grin spread across his face as he matched Katsuki's speed.

"You can't get rid of me!" he shouted, the challenge clear in his voice as he speed-walked up to Katsuki's side, eager to prove that he wouldn't give up that easily.

Katsuki rolled his eyes and stopped trying. "I can fucking see that, Deku."

" you're a fucking leech" he snarled, putting his headphones in.

Izuku smiled brightly, the corners of his mouth stretching wide as he walked beside Katsuki. The warmth of their friendship enveloped him, even though Katsuki's demeanor suggested he was less than thrilled about their time together.

"Wanna know something crazy?" Izuku chuckled softly, his voice light and playful. Katsuki, with his signature scowl intact, offered no response, but that didn't stop Izuku. He eagerly continued, a bubbling excitement evident in his bright green eyes.

"Todoroki-kun swiped his dad's credit card, and we had an amazing shopping spree with it!" Izuku exclaimed, laughter spilling from his lips. He continued, full of energy, his hands gesturing as he spoke. "It was mostly Uraraka-san though, she's kind of broke-but! Don't tell her I told you that!" His words tumbled out, he paused, and he added with a teasing grin, "It's not like you would tell her anyway—I mean, you guys aren't even friends, aha!"

With an infectious smile on his face, Izuku's nose scrunched adorably, and smile lines danced around his eyes.

"You wanna know what I got Kacchan?" he asked, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

"I bought the new All Might merch! Do you still like All Might? I remember how much you loved him when we were kids, so—oh! How's Auntie doing? And did you know that—" Suddenly, Izuku caught himself. He realized he might be rambling and perhaps irritating Katsuki. Noticing the headphones snugly in his ears, he stopped mid-sentence, pressing his lips together in a firm line.

As the silence stretched between them, Izuku continued walking, his heart sinking slightly.

Katsuki, however, raised an inquisitive brow, glancing at Izuku with a flicker of curiosity.

"Did I know what?" he asked, his tone a mix of irritation and intrigue.

Startled, Izuku's eyes widened, and his lips parted slightly in disbelief. He hadn't expected Katsuki to be paying attention, let alone engaging in the conversation. He could feel his heart fluttering." you were listening?" Izuku asks.

Katsuki scrunched his nose in annoyance, his eyes rolling dramatically as he crossed his arms.

Tch, of course, I was, Deku. Don't underestimate me," he barked, his voice sharp and laced with irritation.

Izuku's face brightened into a genuine smile, the kind that radiated gratitude and warmth. "Ah—thanks for paying attention, Kacchan," he replied, his eyes sparkling with appreciation.

Katsuki gave a brief nod, though his expression remained stoic.

With a grunt of frustration, he leaned his head back, deliberately avoiding Izuku's gaze, as if the very act of looking at him might betray the softness he tried so hard to hide.

"Yes, I still like all might, and the old hag is doing great."

----

"you're in a good mood today," Tokoyami said, walking beside Izuku as they made their way through the crowded hallway, and toward their class.

Izuku couldn't help but feel happy. His day- so far, was going great; he and Kacchan had managed to avoid their usual bickering, and instead of Katsuki throwing rude insults and orders at him, the blonde actually spoke to him— like friends. — Something as small as this lifted Izuku's mood significantly.

With a bounce in his step, Izuku turned to his friend, his smile wide. "Yeah! Well, guess what! Kacchan actually talked to me today and— it wasn't just him yelling at me."

Tokoyami's eyes widened slightly, clearly shocked. "Really?" He asked.

"Yeah! Well.." Izuku hesitated, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "He did tell me to leave him alone, but he actually spoke to me-also, we walked together for a bit!  I kind of had to force him into it. But still! That's definitely a start, right?" He rambled excitedly, his words tumbling over one another.

Tokoyami chuckled softly. "I see."

As the bell rang, signaling the start of another class, Izuku Midoriya stepped into the room, his jittery behavior starting to subside. He glanced towards Katsuki Bakugo, who was already settled in his seat. Katsuki had his headphones in, his red eyes fixated intensely on the screen of his phone, not paying attention to the world around him.

When their gazes finally locked, time seemed to stretch between them. Izuku felt a rush of warmth creeping up his cheeks, and after a heartbeat, he looked away, flustered by the intensity of Katsuki's stare. Trying to shake off the feeling, he made his way to his desk, settling silently behind the blonde athlete.

As the lesson began, Izuku felt the familiar pressure of trying to keep up with the class while simultaneously taking detailed notes. His eyes darted between the chalkboard, and his notebook, where his hurried handwriting sprawled across the pages. Katsuki, however, seemed unfazed, having completed the same task with an effortless ease.

The effort was exhausting; the ache in Izuku's wrist was a constant reminder of the frantic pace he was trying to maintain. Finally, with a sigh of relief, he set his pen down, allowing the tension in his shoulders to dissipate for a brief moment.

"Let's go over the test results," Mr. Aizawa said, his tone indifferent as he stifled a yawn.

The announcement sent a jolt of fear through Izuku. His heart raced as he braced himself for his score, dreading the thought of failing. — He hated failing, and what he hated even more was, failing others.

Aizawa began to call out the scores, his voice monotonous, yet the weight of each name hung in the air like a thick fog.

"Hagakure, 78%," he droned.

"Sato, 67%."

"Tokoyami, 87%"

Izuku shifted nervously in his seat, stealing glances at Katsuki, who remained calm and relaxed, an unpredictable storm resting just beneath the surface. Katsuki was notorious for his top-tier performance; he never settled for second or third place.

"Kirishima, 63%."

"Denki, 47%."

Denki's face fell, disappointment clear as he slumped in his seat. "Man! I tried so hard-" But he quickly silenced himself, noticing Aizawa's piercing glare aimed his way.

The anticipation in the room thickened as Aizawa continued to read out the scores.

Then, the moment came. "Bakugo, 97%." The classroom seemed to hold its breath. Katsuki remained composed, but Izuku could sense the bubbling intensity beneath his calm exterior.

"And Midoriya... 100 percent"

As Aizawa announced his score, his eyes landed on Izuku, who felt as if the floor had vanished beneath him. "You got the highest score in the class." He yawned. "Great job."

Izuku's eyes widened in disbelief. Him? Highest score? There must've been some mistake. There was no way, Kacchan never lost. He stole a quick glance at Katsuki, whose expression had shifted dramatically. The relaxed demeanor was gone, replaced with a tense fury that radiated from him like heat from an open flame.

"No fucking way," Katsuki hissed, his jaw clenched tightly, fists curling into white-knuckled grips on his desk. 

Izuku felt a lump form in his throat, his heart pounding as he stared at Katsuki.

After class, Izuku quickly gathered his belongings before turning towards his friend. — Tokoyami stood beside him, on his phone, waiting patiently.

Tokoyami took his eyes off his phone, meeting Izuku's wide green eyes, there was a reassuring smile on his lips, though, it seemed as if it was only reassuring to Tokoyami, not Izuku himself. "You go ahead, I'll catch up with you later," Izuku said, attempting to sound confident. 

Tokoyami hesitated, his brows furrowing— It took a moment, but Tokoyami nodded and walked out of the classroom, leaving Izuku alone. — with Katsuki.

With a heavy sigh, Izuku adjusted the straps of his backpack and headed toward the door. — Just then, Katsuki Bakugo walked past him, slinging his backpack carelessly over his shoulder.  —In a fit of frustration, Katsuki shoved Izuku aside, causing him to stumble slightly.

Izuku's throat tightened; he knew better than to take it personally, but the shove still stung.

"Kacchan!" Izuku called out.

Katsuki, with his headphones snug in his ears, ignored him completely, the weight of his scowl palpable as he buried his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket. he walked away with heavy steps that echoed in the hallway.

Izuku hesitated for a moment but soon pushed himself to quicken his pace to catch up with his childhood friend. "L-look Kacchan" he stumbled. "I never tried to best you, and I know how much you hate it, trust me I do- please-"

Before he could finish, Katsuki stopped in his tracks, shooting him a sharp glare, his eyes were filled with irritation. 

"Deku." He growled, there was venom in his voice. "If you're here just to rub that shit in my face, then you can fuck off, I don't want to hear your annoying voice." His words dripped with bitterness.

Izuku bit his lip, feeling a lump form in his throat but refusing to retreat. "Kacchan-"

"Leave me alone, Deku!" Katsuki barked, his anger spilling over as he shoved Izuku away again. The force made Izuku stumble backward, his heart pounding not just from the physical impact but from the emotional turmoil.

"We're not friends, and we will never be friends. Stop fucking trying," Katsuki spat, his tone final and unforgiving.

Izuku's eyes widened in shock, the sting of Katsuki's words piercing deeply. Each word reminded him of middle school Kacchan, he hated it.

"Our friendship ended when we were kids, Deku," Katsuki added, his voice now tinged with something that looked like regret, but it was overshadowed by frustration. "Get over it already." he paused. "I really fucking hate you, so why can't you hate me too? You fucking idiot." 

With one last, fierce glare, Katsuki turned on his heel and stormed away, the rapid thud of his footsteps growing distant.

Standing alone in the hallway, Izuku felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he watched Katsuki disappear into the distance. His heart felt heavy, breaking under the weight of those harsh comments.

Katsuki, despite everything, had a sharp tongue and a fierce temper.— it was better for Izuku to leave him alone, but, deep inside, Izuku couldn't ignore the spark of fear and anger that flickered in Katsuki's red eyes as he stormed off.

Izuku realized, Katsuki's exterior was so close to breaking — The blonde athlete was about to spill his bottled up feelings out. 

Their relationship with one another was changing.

Chapter Text

"Izuku I love you, but are you kidding me?!"

Uraraka took a deep breath, still attempting to process the words that slipped from Izuku's mouth. She pinched the bridge of her nose in disapproval, while simultaneously shaking her head.

She sat crisscrossed on the soft, plush carpet of Asui's room. — She wore comfy pink pajamas; her pajama pants were light pink and decorated with soft yellow stars. They were paired with an oversized white t-shirt that hung loosely off her shoulder.

Sitting in front of her was her best friend, Izuku Midoriya. He sat, fidgeting with his fingers, his cheeks tinted from the discussion they had just had. — Unlike Uraraka, Izuku was a bright mess. — He wore bright, big, All Might pajama pants; they were bright yellow, red, blue, and white.

Izuku wore a light blue shirt with the words "Sleep Over Shirt " on it. His hair was slightly tousled and held up with a hair tie, Giving him a laid-back appearance. It wasn't his idea; it was Uraraka's.

"Uraraka-san! You don't understand!" He cried, in an attempt to defend himself.

Uraraka huffed out a laugh. "Of course, I don't understand! I'm a sane person!"

Izuku shook his head. "Kacchan is amazing! He really is!"

"No, he isn't!"

"Yes, he is!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

They continued to bicker. — Izuku was desperately trying to defend his childhood friend, but, Uraraka wasn't caving.

Just as Uraraka was about to scream louder, Izuku cut her off. "I admire Kacchan so much! You know that Uraraka-san!" He paused, gathering his breath. "I want to be his friend— y'know, just like when we were kids!"

Each word that slipped out of Izuku's mouth made Uraraka want to strangle some sense into him. — He sounded utterly stupid. There was no way he still cared about that — guy.— his bully.— It was insane to Uraraka.

"I got a better score than Kacchan!"

"So?!" Uraraka dumbfounded.

"He hates me!— A lot! Now, I beat him at something... He wasn't 1st, I was!" Izuku cried. Uraraka scoffed, she looked at her best friend with a look in her eyes that screamed, 'So what? Why does that matter?'

"He doesn't take losing lightly Uraraka-san! He's actually going to murder me!"

Uraraka rolled her eyes dramatically. "Izuku, he's not going to murder you."

Izuku shook his head, disagreeing with his friend. "Yes, he is! — It's Kacchan!"

"All I wanted was to get on Kacchan's good side, and now that I beat him at something — even if it's as small as a test score— he won't even give me a chance to get on his good side! He barely tolerates me right now, do you see how bad this is!"

Uraraka could feel the frustration growing as she threw her hands up in disbelief. "Izuku! Do you even hear yourself right now!?" She cried. "He's your bully Izuku — Your BULLY!" She laughed out, though, there was no humor. "How can you even look at him without feeling hate towards him? — Why would you want to be friends with someone who treats you like shit!?"

She loved Izuku, yes, but she also knew when it was right to argue with him.— He needed to realize his self-worth and leave that bastard in the past. — Uraraka was always protective of her friends; especially Izuku, Asui, and Hatsume.

Izuku pressed his lips together, his shoulders slumped in defeat. "I-I know, but..- he's just—he was my first friend y'know, he's amazing."He mumbled softly, fidgeting with his fingers. "I know he might seem like an egocentric freak, but— Kacchan really is nice."

His friends hate Kacchan — they all did; besides Kuraikage. — They all saw Bakugo as an untamed animal, someone impossible to ever get along with. But, Izuku, always made sure to defend him.

Shinsou was taken aback, he stared at his friend in disbelief. "Midoriya.. Are you serious?" He asked, shaking his head slowly as if trying to comprehend Izuku's devotion to Katsuki.

Izuku let out an exasperated groan.— with a heavy sigh, he threw himself back onto the pile of pillows that were scattered around the floor. — the soft fabric cushioning his fall.

"Guys!" He whined.

"You just don't understand!" He cried, his hands flailing animatedly in the air as he tried to emphasize his feelings. "He's literally amazing!— the most incredible person in this world!— gosh!— he's..." He paused, furrowing his brows as he stared at the ceiling.

"my best friend." Izuku finished with a soft sigh, his eyes sparkling with longing.

Shinsou and Uraraka turned to exchange glances at one another, they both had the same expression on their faces: disappointment, and disbelief. — They weren't the type to agree with one another— but, this was something they both agreed on. — Izuku was fucked.

They shook their heads at each other, they were familiar with Izuku's personal struggles.— They turned back to him, concern written on their faces.

Shinsou sighed, pressing his temple. "Dude, Izuku, Bakugo is—" He started, a pause hanging in the air as he searched for the right words to describe the blonde athlete.

"He's a fucking jerk, he's egocentric, overly confident, and on top of that, he treats you like shit.— How can you even admire someone like that?" Shinsou's voice held a mix of frustration and disbelief, hoping to talk some sense into his friend.

Izuku Midoriya sighed deeply, propping himself back up, his elbows against the cushions. — His hands rested in his lap, awkwardly.— He knew his friends were just trying to be reasonable but— he didn't like how they were talking about Kacchan.

"Guys, stop." He started, a frown appearing on his lips. "Kacchan isn't like that— Why are you describing him as if he's a cruel person," he argued — desperation creeping into his voice.

"He is!" Ochaco Uraraka and Hitoshi Shinsou cried in unison.

Izuku shook his head. "No! He's—" Izuku started, but was cut off.

"Midoriya, Ochaco is right, and as much as I hate to say it, so is Shinsou." Tsuyu Asui interjected.

"Rude," Shinsou grumbled.

"Yeah man, look," Kuraikage sighed, tilting his head to the side. "I don't hate the guy, I mean— he is my captain, but, he's a total jerk— maybe even a dictator.." Kuraikage added. He leaned back, throwing his head back with an annoyed groan. "He's so bossy on the court sometimes— his teamwork is horrible.— and even worse, his communication skills."

"Look, I don't want to let you down, but you need to let go of this friendship fantasy you're trying to cling to."

Izuku pressed his lips together, he wanted to say something back but, there wasn't anything he could say to defend himself. — They were right.

"You idiot." Tokoyami sighed, shaking his head in disapproval as he hit his taller brother in the stomach with his elbow.

"Ow!" Kuraikage hissed. He shot a glare at his brother, leaning closer."I'm going to kill you—Tokoyami."

Tokoyami remained unphased, he leaned back with a bored expression on his face as his brother leaned closer.

Asui shook her head, letting out an annoyed groan. "Both of you, stop. I can't do this if all you guys do is move around." She warned as she lifted her hand, and pointed a finger at the twins.

Tokoyami nodded, sitting back up straight. Kuraikage hesitated but soon followed after. "Sorry."

With a weary sigh, Asui brought Kuraikage's hand closer to her face, carefully applying a coat of glossy, black nail polish onto his nails. — The atmosphere started to shift, turning into one full of amusement.

Shinsou couldn't help but snort.— Seeing the two twins getting their nails painted wasn't something that you would expect. "What the hell are you guys doing?" He asked, raising a brow.

Kuraikage scoffed, shooting an exasperated glare at Shinsou. "What does it look like, dumbass?" He huffed out a laugh. "Clearly, me and Tokoyami are getting our nails done, problem?" he retorted with a hint of a smirk, trying to maintain his street cred even in this situation.

Tokoyami observed quietly, sitting comfortably next to his taller and louder brother. His hands rested on a pillow, his fingers splayed apart.—His other hand was already fully coated.— the other still being painted.

Compared to his twin— Kuraikage.— Tokoyami was unbothered by Shinsou's remarks.

"Uh, yeah, I have no problem with it, if you slide that way I support you." Shinsou snorted, raising his hands. — He earned an intense glare from the bolder twin. Kuraikage clicked his tongue and tilted his head to the side.

"Bitch."

Despite Kuraikage's patience running thin, Shinsou continued to tease the taller brother. "Aren't you supposed to be a fuck boy or something?" Shinsou teased, a smirk creeping onto his face. He lifted his finger and pointed it at the twin. "A fuck boy who can barely survive in the sun."

Kuraikage wasn't the type to enjoy the sunlight—He got bad sunburns.— Sometimes, his personality changed due to how hot it was, if the weather was cool, his personality was confident and cocky. If it's warm, he's more relaxed and calm. — and, when it was extremely hot, he refused to go outside. He hates sunburns.

Tokoyami let out a sigh, his brother next to him was barely holding himself back from attacking the other boy. Kuraikage clenched his jaw, the only thing preventing him from launching himself at Hitoshi was Asui and Tokoyami.

Uraraka sighed, shaking her head— this was a normal occurrence for the group, Shinsou always found a way to get on someone's nerves. "Shinsou, stop, he's going to go feral." She laughed.

"Sorry, sorry, Kuraikage." Shinsou hummed.

Despite receiving an apology, Kuraikage was still ticked off. — He was offended. — "First of all," He began with a hint of arrogance in his tone, "I'm not a fuck boy. — I've only had like— Three girlfriends." He rolled his eyes. "It's not my fault I'm attractive," He boasted, raising his other hand to point it at himself.—His ego was evident.

"Second of all," Kuraikage continued, a playful glint in his red eyes, "I do not slide that way, I'm only getting my nails painted because Asui asked me, and I'm a good friend. Plus," He wiggled his freshly painted fingers in front of his face, a playful smirk capturing his lips. "This shit is fire. I'm gonna attract all the ladies with this, trust—They love emo boys." He whistled confidently.

Shinsou rolled his eyes, unamused. He let out an exaggerated breath of disbelief as he leaned back. — His gaze turned back to Izuku—who seemed clearly upset.

"Anyways, as I was saying, Midoriya, Bakugo— he's not worth the time and effort it takes to be friends with him," Kuraikage sighed, he ran his free hand through his tousled hair, before resting his chin in his palm and staring at his shorter friend.

"Honestly, he's just going to shove you away if you try.— It's like he's wrapped in an unbreakable shell that protects his feelings." He hummed. "Getting along with him is like trying to win a war armed with nothing but a pistol— impossible."

Tokoyami let out another sigh, shaking his head.— His brother was a fucking idiot and didn't realize the situation he was causing.

Asui shot him a glare, her brows furrowing in disapproval.— Kuraikage smiled sheepishly, straightening up.

Izuku bit his bottom lip. "I know, I know, but... I really want to get along with him again," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper as he sighed deeply, his gaze met everything but his friend's.

His gaze stopped at his hands. Awkward silence filled the room as Izuku traced the patterns on his fingers, but eventually spoke.

"We were inseparable."

Uraraka's brows furrowed further, a frown taking her lips. — Her expression shifted to one of sympathy. She leaned closer.

"Izuku-kun, we really don't want to let you down, but you have to face reality.— Bakugo— he isn't exactly the type to build friendships." She gave him an apologetic look.

"In fact," she added, "He barely gets along with his friends right now." She reached her hand out, gently grabbing Izuku's hand, attempting to comfort him.

"I know you care about him—Which, to be honest, is a bit insane to me, given how he treats you.—But, maybe it's time to leave him alone, y'know? move on..." She mumbled. Izuku shuffled in his spot, earning a soft sigh from Ochaco.

"I just can't bear the thought of you getting hurt because of some arrogant jerk." Her voice softened.

Izuku bit down on his bottom lip harder, ignoring the pain it was inflicting— The pain of their words stung far deeper than a small cut on his lip.— He knew they were right, and it hurt to feel the truth of it wash over him.

He didn't know what to say, it was embarrassing.

"Guys, let's leave him alone.— You're all talking by your experiences and thoughts, but he has his own separate feelings about Bakugo."

Todoroki interjected.

"You can't just say things like that, without considering the effect it might have."

Izuku looked up at his friend— Shoto Todoroki— He was holding a steaming cup of tea in one hand, while the other held his phone. Izuku gave him a thankful look which Todoroki responded with a gentle nod.

He crouched down, placing the warm cup next to Izuku, before settling down beside him.

"You okay?" Shoto asked, his voice low and caring.

Izuku managed a small, grateful smile. "Yeah, thank you, Todoroki-kun," he replied softly.

Todoroki returned the smile, before turning his attention to the two others— Shinsou and Uraraka— His expression shifted from soft to stern. "You two should apologize." He said— it sounded more like an order than a request. "After all, Bakugo is Midoriya's friend, not yours, so you can't decide for Midoriya. — He's his own person, so his choices are his."

Uraraka's eyes widened as she took in and processed Todoroki's words, once it hit her like a cold wave she gaped. "Oh my gosh! Izuku! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to come off like that!" She exclaimed, instead of waiting for a response she lunged forward, engulfing Izuku in a warm, tight hug.

"Uraraka-san it's okay! I don't mind— you guys are right about him!" Izuku wheezed as the breath was squeezed out of him.

Shinsou, feeling a surge of guilt wash over him, rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Sorry about that Midoriya," He paused. "I guess I spoke from my perspective."

"Me too man! I really didn't mean it— shit don't let Bakugo know I was highkey talking shit!" Kuraikage apologized with a laugh.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too Midoriya," Asui chimed in, her voice soft and laced with sincerity.

Izuku looked around at his friends, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over him. He flashed them a toothy smile. "It's okay," he replied.

xxxx

Izuku and Uraraka strolled down the hallway of U.A High School, she happily walked beside him before turning to glance at him. "So, Izuku, are you planning on going to Monoma's party?" She asked, her voice was filled with excitement as she took a few steps to walk in front of him.

Izuku adjusted the strap of his yellow backpack, before looking up thoughtfully. He tugged the strap higher onto his shoulder and shrugged. "I'm not sure... I need to make sure my mom is okay with it first." He replied.

Uraraka giggled, "You're such a mommy's boy!" She exclaimed, playfully poking him in the shoulder with her finger..

Izuku could feel the warmth of embarrassment creeping up to his cheeks, a sheepish smile spreading across his face as he rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, I guess so," he laughed softly, brushing off the teasing.

"Well, you should go! It would be fun!" Uraraka urged. "Just ask her today, okay?— Then let me know what she says." She encouraged, and her enthusiasm was infectious.

Izuku chuckled lightly, the corners of his lips curving upwards into a smile. "Alright then, I will, are you going, Uraraka-san?"

Uraraka laughed playfully. "Of course" She snorted. " why else would I ask?" her eyes sparkled with eagerness. "I heard Monoma is filthy rich! I want to see what it's like to live that rich lifestyle, even if it's for one night." She paused, smiling sheepishly. " And— I'm a good person." She added, avoiding eye contact with her friend.

Izuku snorted, raising his brow and shooting her a playful, skeptical look. "Oh? Are you sure you're going because you're nice— or is it because he's rich?" He questioned, his doubt evident as they walked. "What's the party even for?"

Uraraka snorted. "Okay, maybe I'm going because he's rich, and I'm poor, and I want to experience something good in life."

"But anyways," She shrugged, "I don't know why he's having this huge party — I hear his parents are out of town, so I'm guessing that's why, " She mused, her gaze turned thoughtful.

Izuku nodded slowly. "That seems a bit wrong, though. I mean— misbehaving without your parents knowing— that doesn't feel right."

Uraraka couldn't help but erupt into laughter, giving Izuku a playful slap on the back of his head. "Loosen up Izuku-kun! We're teenagers, we should experience teenage life," Her voice was teasing, urging him to relax.

Izuku frowned slightly. "I'm a freshman, Uraraka-san. I don't really think we should be acting reckless," he said, trying to maintain his serious demeanor. "What if we become drug addicts."

"Seriously?" Uraraka dumbfounded.

"Izuku, we're not going to become drug addicts, what is up with your mindset." She laughed, shaking her head.

Her smile softened, and she spoke more gently. "Come on, I'm not going to force you into doing something crazy, plus I wouldn't even do that! I love my parents, if I disobeyed them, I would feel guilty forever." She reassured him, before lifting her finger in the air.

"Plus, it's Monoma who is acting up by throwing this huge party without his parents knowing.— So why should it matter to us? Let's have fun!"

She tilted her head, studying his expression. "So, how about it? Are you still going to go?"

Izuku let out a sigh. "Yeah, I guess so, but don't pressure me to drink! I'm underaged." He grumbled, throwing a wary glance at Uraraka.

She snorted, dismissing his concerns with a wave of her hand. "Relax Izuku-kun! Who do you think I am? I'm not planning to drink either.— We can just enjoy the party without going overboard!" Her laughter rang out again as they continued their walk.

"Out of my way, Deku."

Katsuki strode down the hallway, deliberately bumping his shoulder into Izuku, who stumbled backward, nearly losing his balance.— But, Uraraka reached out and steadied him, her eyes narrowing in annoyance, shooting a fierce glare at the blonde who was already walking away.

"Seriously, Bakugo? Don't be such a dick!" Uraraka exclaimed, her voice filled with indignation.

Katsuki slowed his pace down. He scoffed dismissively, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket, his backpack strap dangling lightly off his shoulder.

He turned slightly, casting a contemptuous glare back at Uraraka, his expression showed a mix of irritation and arrogance. "Maybe you should learn to keep your mouth shut, pink cheeks," He retorted, his tone dripped with disdain.

"Kind of pathetic, Deku.— You can't defend yourself, so you have your shitty friends doing it for you.?" He snorted.

Izuku gritted his teeth, his fists clenching at his sides. "She's not shitty, Kacchan!" He shot back, his voice was surprisingly steady, despite the tumult of emotions swirling within him.

"Maybe you should—" He hesitated. "Maybe you should try to learn how to be a basic human being!" He spat, pointing a finger at Katsuki, his determination shining through, despite the looming intimidation of the taller boy.

Katsuki halted abruptly in his tracks. The corner of his lip tugged upward into a smirk. He huffed out laughs, as he began walking towards the two.

He finally closed the distance, just a few feet away from his shorter, childhood friend. "Looks like the nerd can finally talk back." He snorted. "Finally found your voice, Deku?" he taunted, a cocky smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth, his imposing figure loomed over Izuku like a storm cloud.

The cocky expression turned into anger, his brows furrowed, and his lips pressed together.— Katsuki grabbed Izuku by the collar of his shirt, his grip was firm. He clenched his jaw in frustration.

"Don't try to act all high and mighty just because your girlfriend is here, Deku." He warned. His brows furrowed further examining the look on Izuku's face.

Despite Izuku clearly being afraid, he stood his ground, he stared right back at Katsuki, his brows furrowed, but his lips were quivering. Katsuki clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Keep acting like that, and I'll break your fucking jaw. "He hissed, his tone dripping with disdain as Katsuki glared down at his nervous friend.

Izuku's brows knitted together in a frown, he grabbed onto the hand that held onto his shirt tightly.— Katsuki's eyes widened slightly.— Izuku's voice shook slightly as replied. "She's not my girlfriend, Kacchan."

Just then, Uraraka stepped forward, her expression was a mix of annoyance and determination. "Let him go, Bakugo," She commanded firmly, her hand reaching out to grasp Izuku's shirt, in an attempt to pull him back. "Just because he hurt your ego, doesn't mean you have to act like an animal."

Katsuki's scowl deepened as his attention shifted to the shorter girl. Irritation sparked in his bright, intense eyes. "You're talking a lot of shit." He retorted, "Y'know," a sinister smirk painted his features as tugged at Izuku's shirt, leaning closer to his childhood friend. "I can break his limbs right now, and what will you do about it?' He challenged.

Uraraka narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't do that to him." She said with conviction before she raised a finger, pointing directly at him. "You can act all scary and tough, but you wouldn't actually hurt him, would you, Bakugo?"

For a brief moment, Katsuki's expression shifted. —His eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of something softer breaking through his act. — But, it was quickly buried and hidden beneath a scowl as he let go of Izuku with a shove.

"Well, shit." He huffed a laugh. He stepped back a bit, stuffing his hands into his pockets, "You're fucking smart."

Uraraka raised a brow but didn't let her guard down.

"you're right, I wouldn't."

Izuku pressed his lips together, he doubted those words.

"I don't know Kacchan...— seems like you had no problem doing that for years," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, his gaze downward, refusing to look him in the eye.

Katsuki raised a brow, his expression shifted to confusion and irritation. "Hah?!"

Izuku, however, remained silent, with his gaze still averted.— This only fueled Katsuki's growing frustration.

"Ignoring me now, Deku? — Don't think so fucking low of me!" He spat. "You think you're tough, huh? you think you're better than me now!" Katsuki huffed a laughed. "You beat me once, that's it!" His voice continued to rise as he stepped closer.

Uraraka was quick to intervene, she pulled Izuku away from the erupting blonde, shooting Katsuki a stern glare, her hands on her hips. "Learn to control your emotions, Bakugo!— he doesn't have to reply to you, don't get so ticked off," she snapped, her tone fiercely protective of her friend.

Katsuki scoffed in disdain, rolling his eyes as he turned on his heel, making his way down the hallway. "Next time, don't talk back, Deku!" I don't know how long I can continue to tolerate your useless ass!" He called over his shoulder, anger still palpable in his voice.

Izuku and Uraraka watched as Katsuki's figure disappeared into the distance. — The tension was still hanging heavy in the air.— After a bit, Izuku let out a long, weary sigh, fiddling with the strap of his backpack.

Uraraka huffed out a frustrated breath, shaking her head in disbelief. "Man! He's such a bitch!" she exclaimed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Izuku couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Yeah, but—"

Uraraka rolled her eyes dramatically, cutting him off." Yeah, yeah, I know— he's amazing.— I know Izuku." She replied, a smirk creeping onto her face. — Izuku always talked about Kacchan, so at this point— she was used to it.

Izuku chuckled again. "Yeah, I guess I've said that too many times," he admitted sheepishly. There was a fond smile playing on his lips as he thought of Katsuki Bakugo.

Uraraka nodded emphatically, her disbelief shifting into a playful exasperation. "Yes, yes you have." She paused. "I can't believe you still want to be friends with that guy!"

Izuku pulled his backpack strap up. "He's really nice, it's just.. he bottles up his emotions, Uraraka-san," Izuku said with a frown, attempting to defend Katsuki's harsh behavior, his voice softening as he spoke.

Uraraka sighed. "I really want to believe that, but all I've seen is him acting like a dick."

Izuku laughed. "I know, but— he's trying."

Uraraka blinked, tilting her head to the side, and her expression shifted to one of confusion. "He's trying to what?"

Izuku grinned, turning his head to look at Uraraka, tilting his head to the side.

"He's trying to change.— I know that."

xxxx

Izuku Midoriya hurriedly grabbed his phone from his nearby bedside table. He quickly tapped onto the group chat that included him and his friends, mindlessly clicking the call button.

The phone continued to ring, waiting for someone to join. — The first person to join was Shoto Todoroki, his voice raspy and sluggish as if he had just awoken from a deep sleep.

"Midoriya?" Todoroki mumbled, there was a hint of confusion and sleep lingering in his voice.

"I'm really sorry, Todoroki-kun! Were you sleeping?" Izuku asked, quick to apologize.

There was a brief rustling sound on Todoroki's end; he seemed to be propping himself up, sitting up in bed. "Mhm," he murmured, then paused for a moment. "But, 'ts alright, I don't mind"

A soft yawn escaped him, echoing the lethargy that clung to his voice

"So, you need something?" Todoroki asked, his tone shifting to one of curiosity.

Izuku hesitated, feeling a wave of guilt for waking up his friend.—Shoto was always a busy person, so he usually slept a lot.— "Well, ah— now I feel bad for interrupting your sleep." Izuku said sheepishly. "It's nothing that important, really," he added with an awkward laugh while scratching the back of his head.

"Hm," Todoroki replied. It was clear he was still half-asleep.

"Well," he paused. "I'm awake now, so go ahead and tell me." Todoroki laughed softly.

"Ah— I feel so bad," Izuku sighed, "I just need some help with an outfit. y'know..— for the party today," he admitted, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink as he laughed at his own nervousness. "Sorry to bother."

"You don't bother me,—"

"Woah! you're going? Izuku, I'm coming over right now!"

Uraraka's enthusiastic voice suddenly burst through the speaker, cutting Todoroki off, and cutting Izuku from his thoughts.—Her excitement was palpable.

Izuku winced slightly at the high-pitched sound that abruptly boomed inside his ears. "W-wait, Uraraka-san!" Izuku stammered. "W-when did you even join!?"

Uraraka let out a giggle. "Just now, I'm so glad I did." There were some rustling noises, then her voice sounded farther away. "I'm heading over right now!."

From the background, she could be heard rummaging for her keys, and taking other necessities— organizing them.— "Todoroki! Get your butt up, we're meeting at Izuku's" She ordered.

Izuku's eyes widened in shock. "W-wait! What?!"

Izuku was about to protest, but before the words could slip out of his mouth, she had already left the call and was on her way.

Izuku gulped. "Oh."

Todoroki chuckled softly, clearly amused. "See you soon then, Midoriya, I guess I'm going to the party now too," he said, his tone was light, but it also sounded teasing.

xxxx

Kuraikage leaned back in his chair, his fingers brushing thoughtfully against his chin as he studied his friend — Izuku Midoriya.— "Okay, look, Izuku," He began, his brows furrowing slightly, focusing on the shape of Izuku's face. "So, you've got a baby face, and honestly that makes things much harder for us."

Izuku frowned, his hands trailed up, as he instinctively reached up to pinch his cheek, which had fat. He bit the inside of his cheek as if to will away the implication of his baby-like features.

A soft sigh escaped his lips, and Kuraikage immediately sensed the shift in the atmosphere. He cleared his throat and added, "However, it's not a bad thing!" He ran his hand through his hair. "It just means different styles work better for different face shapes, so please, don't take it as an insult."

Izuku nodded, chuckling softly. "It's okay," he reassured, his voice soft and light, quickly lightening the mood.

Uraraka, ever enthusiastic— She gently cupped Izuku's chin with her thumb and forefinger, tilting his head upward. She examined his features, a twinkle in her eye appearing. "You're so cute!" She exclaimed, lifting her other hand to pinch his cheek.

"I think— Instead of a 'hot guy' aesthetic— like Kuraikage— we should lean towards something more— casual." She grinned. "That seems more like your style than a 'fuck boy' style."

"I could never imagine you as a fuck boy," she snorted.

Shinsou chimed in, with a yawn. "well shit, maybe just a plain t-shirt and some comfy pants." He stretched lazily as if he hadn't just invited himself into a fashion debate.

Uraraka let out an exasperated groan staring at Shinsou with an irritated look in her eyes. "Seriously Shinsou? That's so boring.." She scoffed, before turning back to Izuku. "Let's see.. we can't make you too girly— like, you're definitely not a twink.—" She snorted. "but— I think you would look cute in light, pastel colors."

"So a fucking twink." Shinsou snorted.

Uraraka shot him a glare. "Pastel doesn't make you a twink."

Shinsou stuffed his hands into his pockets, raising a brow. "Uh yeah, so it makes him a soft boy then.." He furrowed his brows. "Same fucking shit."

Uraraka huffed.

Kuraikage suddenly laughed. "What if we just dress him up like a total fuck boy." He offered. "Imagine the look on everyone's faces." He snorted, leaning back.

Asui intervened. "As much as that sounds hilarious, Kuraikage," She rubbed her temples in a gesture of frustration, "We want Midoriya to have an outfit that he is comfortable in— it also has to look decent.— it can't just be a joke."

"Maybe something close to my style?" Tokoyami suggested, his voice low and gravelly. However, he seemed somewhat unconvinced that his aesthetic would fit his friend— Izuku.

"Nah, that wouldn't suit him at all." Kuraikage retorted as he leaned forward, his hands together, elbows resting on his knees. "His baby face makes that hard." He added, pointing at Izuku, who felt his cheeks heat up under the scrutiny.

Kuraikage rolled the chair he was on back, turning to look for his other friends. "Hey, Hatsume! Iida" He called out to their friends, who were a few paces away.

Hatsume was seated on a rolling chair, surrounded by a flurry of blueprints that she had brought with her. Her pink hair framed her face as she scribbled notes.

Iida stood with a serious expression, stroking his chin in deep contemplation.

Kuraikage furrowed his brows, pressing his lips together. He quickly reconsidered. "Or.. maybe not..."

"Honestly, why are we thinking so hard about this," Shinsou said. "I think we should just go with a plain outfit," he added, eyeing the chaos around him.

"No way! That's too lame! Let's pick something cute!" Uraraka countered, her eyes sparkled with determination.

"Forget that cute, soft boy shit.— He would look amazing in my style," Kuraikage insisted. He punctuated his words with a low whistle of approval.

"Guys," Izuku interjected. He could feel the pressure rising as the excitement crescendoed into a loud debate on what outfit he should wear. "This isn't going to work!— you all have different styles— different opinions— and this is really overwhelming!" he added, fidgeting with the fabric of his pants.

As the three of his friends— Shinsou, Uraraka, and Kuraikage— began a spirited argument, voices rising and overlapping one another.— Tokoyami remained unimpressed, he let out a tired sigh, refusing to engage in their debate.—He instead, stayed back and focused on his own thoughts.

The back-and-forth bickering continued.

"Or we could try out all the styles, and then let Midoriya choose?" Shoto Todoroki suggested, his voice cutting through the bickering that had filled the room.

Almost as if there wasn't an argument happening, the tension faded instantly and Uraraka's face lit up with pure excitement.

"Oh wow! you're so smart, Todoroki!" She exclaimed, laughter bubbling from her as she grabbed Izuku's wrist, and then tugged him to his feet.

"Okay then! my choice first!" She declared.

Izuku stood in a pastel green sweater decorated with white stripes, the cozy fabric hugging him comfortably. It was paired with beige, baggy cargo pants that gave him a relaxed look, accented by a few colorful bracelets that jangled softly on his wrist.

His usually messy hair was brushed up, framing his face and revealing his forehead, while a set of white headphones hung around his neck, clearly more for decoration than function they were not charged at all.

"See! it's cute!" Uraraka laughed, her pride was evident as she glanced at Izuku, admiring the transformation.

Shinsou rolled his eyes. "He literally looks like a fucking twink."

"No, he doesn't" Uraraka retorted.

Shinsou brushed off her words. His expression was teasingly skeptical. "My turn," he declared.

Now it was Shinsou's turn to style Izuku. — He dressed him in a simple white long-sleeve shirt layered under a dark gray short-sleeve t-shirt, an understated yet stylish combination. Around Izuku's neck hung a necklace that displayed his initials, adding a personal touch. This outfit was paired with well-fitted blue jeans. Shinsou playfully tussled Izuku's hair, pushing it up in a way that mirrored his own edgy style.

Shinsou backed up, as he began to scrutinize Izuku. He stroked his chin in thought, tilting his head to the side. "Something's off," he mused.

Kuraikage, who was growing impatient, rolled his eyes before shoving Shinsou aside with a cocky smirk on his lips. "Move aside, let the master do it." He snorted. "The only thing that ruined your little outfit was your terrible idea of messing up his hair to look like your bird's nest."

Shinsou shot him a glare.

Izuku could feel a mix of amusement and exasperation at being treated like a living mannequin. — He cherished his friends, but their competitive spirits were overwhelming him.

"Ah, never mind, don't let the master do it," Kuraikage admitted with a sheepish grin, rubbing the back of his head.

Shinsou let out a snorted laugh, clearly entertained.

Izuku's hair was styled in a slick back, not unlike Kuraikage's, though his curls were more untamed. He wore a compression shirt that clung snugly to his torso, accentuating the shape of his muscles and providing an athletic vibe.

His grey sweatpants sagged just enough to offer comfort, and on his neck lay a stylish chain and necklace that complemented his outfit.

His wrist was decorated with a watch, and his fingers were embellished with a few rings, giving him a relaxed yet fashionable look. It was finished with a backward hat, adding to the casual look.

"Okay so.." Kuraikage trailed off. "The slick back is not for you.— so, make sure to never try, I warned you."

Izuku chuckled at his friend's critiques.

"Guess it's my turn— Unless you want to go, Asui," Tokoyami said as he turned to look at Tsuyu who was observing quietly.

She shook her head, waving her hand dismissively. "No, it's okay, I'm good, so go ahead, Tokoyami," she replied.

Tokoyami nodded and sighed, rubbing the back of his head nervously. "Alright, I'll try.."

Tokoyami dressed Izuku in a long-sleeved white t-shirt layered under an affliction t-shirt. — The shirt was paired with black, baggy jeans that were being held up by a spiky black belt.

Izuku's hair was even more tousled— if that was even possible.

He wore rings that clustered around his fingers, bringing the outfit together.

"That's all I got," Tokoyami said, stepping back, feeling unimpressed with his work. — He liked the outfit, he was just unsure if it suited Izuku.

Uraraka bounced over excitedly. "So Izuku!" She beamed. "What are you going to wear? mine right?" She teased, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Izuku gulped nervously, backing away as Uraraka leaned closer. "I— I don't know..?" he stammered, feeling the pressure mounting.

Kuraikage shook his head in disbelief. "are you— serious?" he laughed, taken aback. "After all of that."

"This is a waste of time." Shinsou groaned.

Uraraka looked as if she wanted to scream, releasing a heavy sigh. She turned her attention to Todoroki, her eyes pleading. "Okay, rich boy, you do it now, work your rich boy magic."

Todoroki blinked, slightly taken aback. "What?" he replied. He was momentarily confused by the request.

Uraraka marched over to Shoto, grabbed his wrist, and dragged him towards Izuku. "Izuku can't choose an outfit— somehow..— so, you're our last hope, go on," she insisted as she gave him a slight push.

Todoroki adjusted his stance. "Uh— okay..'' he agreed, still a bit confused.

He styled Izuku in a classic plain white t-shirt layered under a dark green long-sleeve, loose-fitting button-up shirt—leaving the top two buttons undone for a relaxed look. The sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing Izuku's arms, which were adorned with a few bracelets.— He paired this with black baggy pants and Izuku's well-worn red shoes which added a pop of color.

For the finishing touch, Todoroki adjusted Izuku's hair back to its more natural, messy, yet charmingly curly state, avoiding the chaotic look from earlier.

Todoroki finished the outfit off by slipping a watch onto Izuku's wrist. "So..?" He asked, as he lifted his head to look at Izuku's eyes. "Is that good?"

Izuku couldn't help but smile, a wave of comfort washing over him. "It's comfy," he replied with a soft smile on his lips. "Thanks, Shoto."

Shoto seemed shocked a bit— his eyebrows raised, his eyes widened, and his lips parted slightly. "Uh— you're welcome.." he murmured, rubbing the back of his head.

Uraraka grumbled softly. "My outfit was comfy too," she retorted, half-joking.

Shinsou rolled his eyes. "Whatever, we're finally fucking done, let's just go." He groaned, a playful grin on his face.

xxxx

Izuku clutched his stomach. "I think— I'm going to be sick," Izuku mumbled. His green hair fell over his eyes, and his brows pinched, giving him a distressed look.

Shinsou raised a brow, his hands stuffed into his pockets.—An amused smirk crept onto his face as he stared at his distressed friend. "Izuku, we haven't even entered the party yet.." He started, "How could you already be feeling sick?" He asked, amusement dancing in his voice as he pressed a finger to his temple as a mock exasperation.

Izuku's face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. He shifted his feet to quickly turn around, now facing his taller friend. "First of all," He started. "Kuraikage was driving like a crazy lady!" He exclaimed. His voice continued to rise as he cast Kuraikage an accusatory glance.

Kuraikage gave a mock frown. — He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head in disapproval. "Midoriya, that's so mean... I'm offended." He replied. His voice was dripping with mock sincerity, though the playful smirk on his lips betrayed him.

He raised a brow, his smirk still intact. "It wasn't that bad, Izuku."

Izuku furrowed his brows. "Not to mention," He continued, taking a step closer to his friend, before taking hold of the collar of Kuraikage's shirt, pulling him down to his level, "You were fu— flipping— spinning us in circles for five minutes! — five!"

Kuraikage merely snorted, waving his hand dismissively as a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Still can't curse at your big age?" He teased as he brought his face closer, which only irritated Izuku even more. " plus, so what if I was spinning us around? It's not like anyone died."

Izuku shook his head as disbelief washed over him. — He released his grip, backing up as he pressed his temple. "We could've died!" He turned to Uraraka. "Next time, Uraraka-san is driving."

Uraraka chuckled awkwardly from the sidelines, rubbing the back of her neck, avoiding eye contact with her friend. "Well— bad news, but— I don't actually know how to drive," she admitted bashfully.

"What," Izuku dumbfounded.

Shinsou snickered beside him. "Bold of you to assume she even has a car.— She's broke remember?"

Izuku blinked in realization. "Oh."

He continued with a dramatic sigh, "Alright I guess you're right." He stared at Shinsou "But— It's not only Kuraikage's reckless driving—"

"Good driving," Kuraikage interjected, unable to help himself.

Izuku rolled his eyes playfully. "Shut up— well, I also feel sick because there's going to be a lot of people at the party— It's just kind of overwhelming for me," Izuku admitted with a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his head.

"Have you ever been to a party?" Asui asked, tilting her head to the side curiously.

Izuku's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. "Well, yeah— but they were all like— little kid parties... y'know, like seven-year-olds— celebrating birthdays and all that.."

"What!? So you've never been to a real party?— Like— a teenager party? — where everyone dances and gets drunk." Uraraka asked, her jaw practically hitting the floor.

Izuku shuffled his feet awkwardly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah.."

Shinsou stretched his arms overhead, letting out a yawn. "Yeah— well, I figured. I mean, the last birthday party we had with you— it was what, All Might themed? — I already knew from that," He laughed, shooting a teasing glance at his shorter friend.

Izuku only felt even more embarrassed.

"Shinsou's not wrong. — That made it quite obvious," Tenya Iida chimed in as he adjusted his glasses with a neutral expression.

Tokoyami nodded, agreeing with the others. "Yes, I already knew as well—I'm surprised it wasn't obvious to you, Uraraka."

"I never really focused on that, I just thought he was a huge fanboy," Uraraka stated.

"Who cares about that? let's just go already!" Mei Hatsume interjected with enthusiasm. She wrapped an arm around Izuku's shoulder, then pushed him towards the entrance. The rest of the group soon followed.

"Why is she so excited?" Tokoyami asked.

"Y'know that Higari guy— or Power Loader— whatever you want to call him, he's at this party as well, and builder lady saw him post about it," Shinsou explained, with a drowsy tone.

Tokoyami nodded in understanding.

Izuku's eyes widened, a sparkle in his eye forming. "Woah? Isn't he the guy with all the amazing inventions? He's incredible!" Izuku exclaimed. "He's really smart, I can see why Hatsume admires him so much!"

"Isn't he like forty? Why the fuck is he at a teenager's party?—seems kind of weird." Kuraikage snorted, crossing his arms.

Shinsou shrugged in response. "Well shit, he looks really fucking young for his age, and he's a nice guy— pretty chill too. — So, it's not surprising that students invite him to their parties."

"Pretty privileged," Kuraikage snorted, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. "Whatever, let's go." — With that, he pushed the door open, letting his friends step into the chaos that awaited them.

Once they entered, they were immediately engulfed by a cacophony of noise.— There was music blasting from the speakers and lights flickered and danced over the wave of bodies moving to the beat. — There were some people engaged in conversations while others were in arguments.

Izuku gulped as he felt a wave of anxiety wash over him from all the noise, lights, and people talking." I think I'm going to die," he murmured. — He felt small amidst the crowd of students.

Kuraikage threw an arm around Izuku's shoulder before giving him a playful nudge. "Come on, Izuku, loosen up a bit, yeah?" He leaned down, the teasing smirk returned as he looked at his nervous friend. "You'll be alright, if it's really that overwhelming, let us know."

Izuku took a deep breath, giving his friend a nod. — Suddenly, he blinked in realization. "Wait— where's Hatsume?"

Kuraikage straightened up, glancing around the group, scanning for a pink-haired girl. "Ah— crazy lady must've run off to find Higari," he laughed.

Izuku nodded.

"So! Where do you guys want to go first?" Uraraka asked, her bright smile lighting up her face as she jumped in place, impatiently.

Kuraikage shrugged nonchalantly. "Well shit, I'm good with whatever, but I kind of want to go see some fights."

"I was thinking of just taking a damn nap," Shinsou groaned, stretching his arms overhead with a yawn.

Uraraka shook her head. "Why would you even bother coming to a party if you're just going to sleep?"

"Dunno," Shinsou replied with a smirk.

Asui piped up, "Let's just separate for now, we can meet up later."

"Fine by me," Kuraikage agreed, stretching once more.

Uraraka nodded in agreement. "Okay! here's the plan then— let's form groups of two!" She suggested.

"Okay," The group agreed.

"Alright!" Uraraka turned to Asui. "I'll pair up with Tsu," she declared, Asui nodded her head.

Izuku blinked, "Are you sure? " He asked, there was a mix of concern and surprise mingling in his voice. "You guys have to be careful!"

Shinsou placed a reassuring hand on Izuku's shoulder, gaining the shorter boy's attention. Hitoshi Shinsou laughed lightly. "They'll be just fine, Izuku. They can handle themselves— They don't need a 'man' to protect them," he smirked, casting a knowing look at the two girls.

Izuku blinked, his expression shifted to one of understanding. "Ah— you're right." He smiled.

Uraraka giggled softly, "Thank you for worrying Izuku! But— we'll be fine."

"Anyway, she added, clapping her hands together. She turned to the black-hair twins. "Tokoyami, you'll be with Kuraikage, of course."

Kuraikage threw his head back dramatically. "Great, I see him every day, morning and night, and now I'm stuck with him again," Kuraikage grumbled with exaggerated sarcasm.

Tokoyami rolled his eyes, though he couldn't hide the slight smile that was on his face.

"Iida, you can go with Todoroki— wait, no, Shinsou," Uraraka said before quickly revising her groupings.

Iida shook his head. "Ah— apologies, but I believe it's better if I go with Hatsume, so I can ensure that she's not alone."

Uraraka nodded in understanding. "Ah, okay," she replied before adjusting the plan. "Well then," She turned to the three— Shinsou, Todoroki, and Izuku.— "Looks like all three of you will be together since we have an uneven amount."

"Okay," Shoto Todoroki said, his voice low.

Shinsou yawned again, stretching as if he could hardly be bothered. "Great, just what I wanted.— Stuck with the guy who can't seem to get over his childhood bully." He snorted, shooting Izuku a teasing look.

Izuku furrowed his brows as he put up a playful front. "Do you even like me?"

Shinsou turned to him with a teasing smirk, he tilted his head to the side, his smirk growing. There was a twinkle of mischief in his eye that left Izuku puzzled.

"I do."

xxxx

"No."

Shinsou's expression hardened, his glare becoming more intense as he stared at Todoroki and Izuku, a vein throbbing in his forehead. His hand was clenched tightly into a fist, knuckles turning white under the pressure of his frustration.

Izuku chuckled playfully, his laughter ringing out. "Come on, Hitoshi!"

The three of them sat outside, sitting at a small circular table. — Sitting in a pile in front of them, there lay a pile of colorful Uno cards, the original game box was tipped over to the side. — On the top of the pile was a '+4' and beneath it was another— and another..

Todoroki, attempting to suppress a smile, leaned back in his chair. "Go on, grab 12 cards," he said, his tone teasing.

Shinsou's brows furrowed in annoyance, his irritation evident. His voice was laced with exasperation. "Bitch."

With an exaggerated scoff, he reluctantly reached toward the deck, dramatically pulling out 12 cards. He let out a frustrated huff the moment he leaned back in his chair.

Izuku erupted into laughter, a wide grin spreading across his face and crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Hitoshi, it's your fault!" he managed between breaths, wiping away tears that threatened to spill.

Todoroki joined in on the laughter, a rare smile breaking through his usually stoic demeanor. "Yeah, it's not our fault you decided to put down a plus four," he chimed in, amusement shining in his eyes as he glanced at the deck, and then the irritated freshman.

"I'm going to smack you, rich boy," Shinsou snarled. — He looked as if were going to explode.

Todoroki raised a brow, tilting his head to the side. "Why? It's not my fault, I put plus four after you, meaning the one I placed was originally towards Midoriya— he was the last one to place a plus four, meaning it's his fault."

"Nerd," Shinsou scoffed in exasperation.

"The reason I'm picking on you and not Izuku is simple. — For one, smacking Midoriya is impossible.— It's a death wish.— If I even attempt to raise my hand near him, Uraraka will lunge at me and then proceed to beat the crap out of me."

"And, don't even get me started on his mom— I know she'd hunt me down and make sure I never see the light of day again." He said, a chill running down his spine as he shivered at the thought.

"And secondly, you just make me fucking mad, so I want to punch you," He continued, glancing behind them, an amused smirk slipping onto his lips. "And third.." He paused.

"Looks like childhood friend is glaring right at us," Shinsou remarked. There was a hint of mischief in his voice as he tilted his head slightly, gesturing towards the figure standing a few feet behind Todoroki and Izuku.

"If I were to smack Midoriya right now— even if it was playfully, I have a feeling he wouldn't take it so lightly, might get annoyed and try to fight me." He snorted, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes as he thought of the possible outcomes.

Izuku felt a wave of paralyzing fear wash over him. He stood frozen in place, refusing to look in the direction that Shinsou was motioning to.

However, Todoroki was unphased, he turned his body around fully, facing the blonde who stood across from them. — Katsuki was sitting slouched on a cooler, his legs were spread apart and his arms hung limply between them.

Standing beside him were his friends, Kasiga and Tesaki, who were busy making terrible attempts to win some girls over.

Despite a girl who was trying to capture his attention sitting next to the blonde, he paid her no mind. Instead, his focus was solely fixed on Todoroki and Izuku. His intense gaze locked onto them.

When Todoroki and Katsuki finally made eye contact, the tension in the air became greater, making it palpable. Katsuki Bakugo's glare intensified, the scowl etched on his features deepening. He seemed to shoot Shoto a silent warning that only made Todoroki blink in confusion.

Shoto Todoroki quickly shook off the warning, turning away. "Oh yeah, he is."

Shinsou snickered. "Way to be unnoticeable, Todoroki," he remarked, his voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Thanks," Todoroki replied.

Izuku could feel the weight of dread heavy on his chest. He burst in a panicked whisper, "This was a really bad idea going here, Kacchan's going to kill me, and I mean that literally." He cried, the fear he showed was evident in his eyes.

Shinsou laughed, slightly easing the tension. He threw an arm around Izuku's shoulders, pulling him closer. "Relax, just avoid any interaction with him, let's go find somewhere else to hang out."

With that, Izuku felt a slight sense of relief wash over him as they turned around and made their way back indoors. — Inside, they found and joined the twins— Tokoyami and Kuraikage.

"Ah— there you guys are, what's up?" Kuraikage greeted/

"I and Tokoyami were watching some fights and shit, we almost got fucking caught up in the middle of it." He laughed.

Tokoyami with his signature brooding demeanor, let out a sigh. "I'm never going with you again," he muttered as he crossed his arms.

Kuraikage snorted.

"Sounds like fun!— well, I mean- other than the part where you guys almost got dragged into the fight," Izuku chimed in.

"Sounds like you guys had a better time than I did," Shinsou remarked with a hint of bitterness in his tone. He was leaning against a nearby wall.

Kuraikage raised an intrigued brow. "Oh yeah? What were you guys doing?" He asked, chuckling.

Izuku smiled widely. "We were playing Uno!," He paused, "Hitoshi ended up getting plus 12, and he got so mad!" He laughed, giving Shinsou a playful nudge.

Kuraikage snorted. "Damn, that sucks, he must've been fuming," he exclaimed.

Shinsou rolled his eyes, brushing off the comment with an exasperated expression. "You just fucking wait, I'll get my revenge in the next game," He warned playfully, nudging Izuku.

Izuku laughed in response, refusing to take his friend seriously.

"Anyways—" Shinsou yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "We were outside and shit, we saw—"

"Yo cap!" Kuraikage interjected as he called out to someone behind them. — There was now a blonde figure with spiky hair that began to make his way towards them.

Izuku could feel his heart drop, as he froze in place. He recognized that presence all too well.

Shinsou let out an audible sigh. "Well, shit," he grumbled under his breath, shaking his head.

Todoroki, who had been observing quietly, blinked in confusion, he nudged Izuku with his elbow, giving him a look that screamed. 'what's wrong?'

Izuku managed a hesitant smile in response, despite being caught off guard by a feeling of nerves and awkwardness.

The distinctive sound of three pairs of footsteps grew louder and louder as they approached. — Katsuki's heavy, decisive strides signaled a confident presence, while Tesaki's lighter steps contrasted sharply, almost skipping with enthusiasm. Hasiga's pace was measured, which added to the mix.

"Hey, man!" Hasiga called out cheerfully, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. He stood a few feet away from Izuku.

Shinsou leaned back slightly and could sense the discomfort that was radiating from his friend. He sighed, stuffing his hands deep into his pockets. With a subtle nudge, he edged closer to his nervous friend, offering some silent support. — Katsuki's presence was intensifying Izuku's turmoil; it was a reminder of the unresolved tension that lingered between the two.

Todoroki was observant, he was quick to notice the subtle shift in Izuku's posture. He noticed how the boy's shoulder slumped as if he were trying to hide away in a shell— just like turtles— It looked as if Izuku was wild prey, trying to avoid a threat.— His green eyes darted anxiously, deliberately avoiding any contact with Katsuki. — It was as though he were trying to become invisible, desperately aiming to shield himself from the emotions that tied the complicated history they shared.

With furrowed brows, Todoroki stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Izuku's shoulder. His touch was light and comforting. — His gesture was simple, but it spoke volumes.

"So, are you guys enjoying the party?" Kuraikage asked, his voice playful as he leaned his head back to gaze at the ceiling, his hands still buried deep in his pockets.

"Hell yeah! we were just about to grab a drink, want to join?" Tesaki chimed in.

Kuraikage tilted his head back down, there was a smirk forming on his lips as he raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Well fuck, look at you, cap— finally ready to let loose a little?"

Katsuki's face turned into a scowl full of irritation. "Fuck no, I'm not a fucking idiot who drinks alcohol all day, then gets fucking drunk," the blonde shot back, crossing his arms tightly across his chest.

Kuraikage, clearly amused, let out a chuckle.

They continued to talk and Izuku could feel the undeniable weight in the air— He could feel intense eyes fixed on him. — Unable to resist, he finally glanced up to meet Katsuki's gaze. Kacchan's eyes were fiercely locked onto his, exuding a mix of emotions that were hard for Izuku to comprehend.

A nervous gulp escaped Izuku's throat as he held the stare, both of them seemingly frozen. The party soon blurred into the background. — Izuku could feel his cheeks heating up, as a rush of warmth cascaded over him.

After what felt like an eternity, Katsuki's eyes drifted away, it was now scrutinizing Todoroki who stood Beside Izuku, then shifted to Shinsou. His focus switched between the three. There was an agitated look on Katsuki's face, that left Izuku feeling anxious; he knew that Kacchan was angry.— His jaw was clenched tightly, brows furrowed in frustration, and there was a fiery glint in his eyes.

Their moment of unspoken tension was then interrupted by the sound of familiar voices. — Both Izuku and Katsuki were shaken from their thoughts. "Well, we'll catch up with you later, yeah?"

"Yeah, make sure you don't stay out too late! Cap needs his nine hours of beauty sleep," Kuraikage teased, a playful smirk still plastered onto his face as he waved goodbye.

Kasiga laughed, before turning and walking away, the others beside him.

Izuku was relieved, yet unsettled. He shook off the strange feeling rising in his chest.

Shinsou, breaking the momentary silence that followed, groaned in exasperation. "Alright back to what we were talking about— Kuraikage," He turned to the taller twin. "We went inside because we saw Katsuki.." He said, pressing his temple.

Kuraikage snorted.

"Well, shit."

xxxx

"Never expected someone like Midoriya to be at a place like this," Hasiga remarked, pouring himself a colorful cocktail, his eyebrow arched in disbelief as he glanced at his friends.

Tesaki nodded in agreement, a smirk playing on his lips. "Yeah, and he even brought friends along." He took a hearty gulp of his drink, causing the vibrant liquid to splash down his jaw, trailing like a reckless ribbon of color.

"Man, Kuraikage needs to hang out with different people.. Hanging out with that nerd is going to put his popularity at risk," He added.

At this, Katsuki scoffed sneeringly. "Why does it even matter? He's friends with Deku—so what?" His tone shifted, brimming with a surprising defensiveness that drew the others' attention.

Tesaki raised an eyebrow, suspicion glimmering in his gaze. "Relax, man. I was just joking. Why do you seem so worked up?"

Katsuki quickly grabbed onto the collar of Tesaki's shirt pulling him closer with a harsh yank, his grip tightening, but he remained silent. His eyes sparked with irritation. "You have a fucking talent for pushing my damn buttons," he snarled, frustration lacing his words.

Tesaki was used to Katsuki's temper, he chuckled and raised his hands in mock surrender. "Calm down," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You're really protective of Izuku, aren't you? What's this? Turning soft?" He laughed sarcastically, his tone light-hearted, yet probing.

"I don't give a shit about him," Katsuki snapped a bit too quickly, the words tumbling out like a reflex rather than conviction.

"Oh? Then why do you get so defensive whenever we bring him up?" Tesaki pressed, his voice laced with sly amusement.

Katsuki clenched his jaw, his brows drawing together in a fierce scowl, tightening his grip on his friend's shirt.

In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Hasiga interjected. "You guys think that Todoroki has a thing for Izuku? I mean, they seem pretty close," he suggested, shifting the topic, though it did little to lighten the mood.

Instead, the atmosphere in the room changed, heavy with an unspoken challenge, and an unmistakable tension crackled around Katsuki.

Tesaki laughed, his voice ringing out playfully. "Well, I doubt that. Izuku's pretty plain-looking, and Todoroki is, you know, he's just too cool for that."

He paused for a moment, considering his words. "But then again, you never know."

Hasiga chuckled. "Or maybe Shinsou; he's been spending a lot of time with Midoriya too." He paused again, a teasing laughter threading his tone. "Or Kuraikage, perhaps?"

Tesaki snorted dismissively. "Nah, definitely not that."

"Or maybe they're just friends?" Katsuki shot back, his voice sharp and laced with irritation.

Tesaki raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "Oh? You seem a bit mad... Don't tell me you've got a thing for Izuku," he joked, a sly smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Katsuki remained silent.

Hasiga laughed nervously. "W-well! It's a good thing that Izuku is gaining friends right?" Hasiga attempted to change the topic.

"I mean Katsuki, you always complained about him following you around when we were younger— now that he has friends, maybe he'll finally leave you alone."

" you can get rid of that annoying leech, just like you've always wanted."

Katsuki gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw tightening as he let go of Tesaki, the fire in his gaze intensifying. —Without uttering another word, he turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving the playful tension hanging in the air.

Tesaki and Kasiga looked at each other, confused.