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It’s honestly a wonder that by their third year Class 1-A had yet to learn that one should never let Izuku Midoriya go anywhere unsupervised. Or maybe they did learn that, but they also learned it was incredibly hard to enforce that rule because Izuku Midoriya listened to no one. Which is why, not for the first time, Izuku Midoriya wakes up on a random sidewalk in the middle of the city with a throbbing headache and a very disgruntled Aizawa standing over him, utterly disapproving.
“You’ve been hit with a quirk,” is the first thing he says.
“Oh,” Izuku gulps, “do you know what it is?”
“Only what the villain has told us so far,” Aizawa crosses his arms and watches Izuku pitifully try to get up from the ground. He offers no help, just watches him suffer.
“Which isn’t much,” Aizawa continues as Izuku tries to stand up, “it’s some sort of selective amnesia. You’re going to forget one person in your life, but we’re not sure who it is yet. But it’s only for a day, so I’m not too worried. We’ll just see who it is when we get back to the dorms. Unless it’s your mother. Do you remember your mother?”
“I remember my mother,” Izuku confirms as he finally makes his way into a standing position, “so it’s someone from school, I guess.”
Aizawa nods. “Frankly, since this isn’t fatal I really couldn’t care less. Figure it out yourself, I’m going to go talk to the villain at the police station. Find your own way back.”
Izuku gapes in indignation. “You’re just leaving me here?”
“Punishment,” Aizawa replies, “for being a problem child again. You got here by yourself without telling anyone anything, so you can do the same on the way back.”
Izuku hangs his head, properly chastised. It’s true he didn’t tell anyone where he was going. He’d just heard about a villain on the news while he was out doing some shopping and immediately gone to help out. He maybe should’ve told someone.
“Sorry, Aizawa sensei,” Izuku tells him, “I’ll just go to the dorms now.”
“Good,” Aizawa says, and then turns and walks away in true Aizawa fashion. He cares about each and every one of his students, which is exactly why he’s literally leaving Izuku in the dust. Izuku is being taught a lesson he absolutely will not learn from. He’s always going to rush into danger and stop villains, but Aizawa tries his best to make Izuku regret it every time he does so. It’s too bad Izuku Midoriya listens to absolutely no one.
Izuku sighs and starts trudging back to UA. He takes his phone out of his pocket on the way and checks his texts, seeing a long list of worried messages from Uraraka and two from Todoroki. He ignores the few missed calls he has in lieu of texting Uraraka and Todoroki back and telling them that he’s fine. Well, he probably has some form of a mild concussion, but he’s used to that. He’s alive and barely bleeding, so he’s more than fine. So Izuku keeps walking the fifteen minutes back to UA, showing his student ID when he gets there to go through the gates. He mutters his way back to the dorms, practicing his apology for this round of Izuku runs away from UA. He really needs to stop doing this.
When Izuku gets to the dorms he’s met with Uraraka standing outside, waving her arms about in anger as he gets closer. He winces; she’s going to kill him.
“Hi, Uraraka,” Izuku says as he nears the front door of the dorms. He walks up the steps and towers over her, but she still manages to be the most intimidating one here.
“I don’t even know what to yell at you this time,” Uraraka shakes her head in disappointment, “Aizawa sensei said you’ve forgotten one of us. Do you know who it is?”
“No idea,” Izuku replies, still wary of the fact that he hasn’t gotten lectured yet.
Uraraka shakes her head. “You’re a disaster, Deku.”
“You’re mad, aren’t you?”
“Not mad,” Uraraka sighs, “just disappointed.”
Izuku winces. That was harsh.
Uraraka reaches up and pats Izuku’s head, and despite her being so much shorter than him the action she’s still able to be condescending. It’s like she’s consoling a puppy. Then she turns around and opens the dorms, where Izuku finds a few other of his classmates milling about in the living room. He spots Iida first, who immediately walks up to him with his hands chopping and gives him a stern talking to about being more careful. Izuku just begs for forgiveness and locks eyes with Todoroki, who’s sitting on the couch. Todoroki just shrugs, giving Izuku a look that says don’t look at me, you deserve this.
Eventually everyone has had their fill with him, and then Izuku is left alone in the common room to think about what he’s done. Properly humbled, Izuku goes up the elevator to his room and shuts the door behind him. He stares forlornly at the numerous All Mights around his room and wonders which of his classmates he’s forgotten. It isn’t anyone in his friend group, maybe it’s actually a teacher or another faculty member? Or maybe it’s someone he’s not as close with. Or very close with. What if it’s Eri?
Wait. Izuku obviously hasn’t forgotten her, he just thought about her.
Izuku can’t take the suspense for much longer. Who has he forgotten?
There’s three sharp raps to his door, jolting Izuku out of his bed. He scampers to the door as the knocks persist, getting louder and louder by the second.
“I’m coming, Jesus,” Izuku mutters, turning the knob and opening his door. It swings open, and Izuku finds himself face to face with someone he doesn’t know.
But damn if he doesn’t want to know this fucking dreamboat.
No seriously, Izuku is right in front of an angel. The guy standing in front of him is just a bit shorter than Izuku, but like Uraraka still manages to be the more intimidating one in the room. He’s got spiky blond hair and sharp red eyes, and they’re narrowed in irritation but Izuku is still struck by their beauty. The absolute vision in front of him also has a jawline that could cut glass, lips pulled into an annoyed but somehow still handsome smirk, and he’s wearing this sinful tanktop that shows off his impressive biceps.
“There you are, shitty Deku,” the gift from God says, “you fucking nerd.”
Holy shit. This boy has the best voice Izuku has ever heard. It’s low and baritone, and it’s rumbly and sends a shiver up Izuku’s spine. And despite his tone, there’s genuine concern in his words. Izuku can tell this guy is worried about him. Which is kind of confusing, because Izuku has literally no idea who this attractive man is.
“Um,” Izuku swallows, “sorry. Who are you?”
The hottest man alive frowns for a second, and then throws his head back and groans loudly. “Motherfucker,” he facepalms, massaging his head with his knuckles afterward in obvious goddammit, Izuku's at it again exasperation, “of course it’s me.”
“Huh?” Izuku asks, “oh, are you the one I forgot?”
“Evidently,” the guy responds, “fuck this. I’m not dealing with you today. I’m gonna go make some fucking dinner. If you wanna figure out who I am, go for it. I don’t care.”
And then the boy slams the door shut and leaves. Izuku is starstruck in his wake. Of course he wants to figure out who this guy is! He’s the prettiest person Izuku has ever seen in his life. Izuku is already halfway in love with him. It doesn’t matter if Izuku’s forgotten him or not, he’s not going to let this man stay out of his clutches any longer. Izuku doesn’t care if he usually despises this guy, or if they’re mortal enemies or something. Izuku-with-his-memories-back is just going to have to deal with it.
Izuku has to seduce him immediately.
“Who’s that guy over there?” Izuku asks Uraraka from his spot in the common room. They’re sitting on a sofa with a good view of the kitchen, where the love of Izuku’s life is cooking dinner. He looks unfairly hot, handling the food like a pro. It’s so domestic.
“He’s the one you forgot?” Uraraka raises an eyebrow, “damn. That’s Bakugou.”
“Bakugou,” Izuku says, “why does that feel wrong?”
“Because you call him Kacchan,” Uraraka responds without preamble, “you guys are childhood friends. I can’t believe he’s the one you forgot. How’d he respond?”
“He said he wasn’t dealing with me and then slammed the door in my face.”
“Ah,” Uraraka nods, “that sounds about right.”
“He’s really hot,” Izuku tells her, “hottest guy I’ve ever seen by far.”
Uraraka spits out the water she was drinking, looking at Izuku in incredulity.
“What?” Izuku defends himself, “look at him! He’s the most beautiful specimen I have ever seen. I think I might be in love. And look! He can cook! That’s so sexy.”
“Get this,” Uraraka says, “he’s also good at cleaning.”
“He cooks and cleans?” Izuku’s eyes widen, “I love that in a man.”
“He goes to bed at eight thirty-two in the evening.”
“He takes care of himself?” Izuku sighs dreamily, “that’s so hot.”
Uraraka slaps her palm to her forehead. “You’re utterly shameless.”
“I know,” Izuku grins, getting up from the sofa, “I’m gonna go flirt. Wish me luck!”
“I-” Uraraka shakes her head, thinking better of whatever scolding she was probably going to give Izuku, “I can’t talk you out of this. Good luck, Deku.”
Izuku flashes her a smile before walking over to the kitchen. Kacchan, apparently, is stirring a pot of noodles that’s cooking on the stove. Izuku watches him from behind for a bit, appreciating his back muscles and broad shoulders and the way his arms move. Eventually Kacchan seems to notice eyes on his back, because he turns around.
“Oh, it’s you,” Kacchan says, “the hell do you want, Deku?”
“You,” Izuku replies, “Uraraka told me that you’re Kacchan.”
“Yeah, that’s me,” Kacchan narrows his eyes, “the fuck do you mean, me?”
“You’re very attractive,” Izuku tells Kacchan, “we should date.”
Kacchan’s face turns very red. “You don’t even know who I am.”
“Don’t care,” Izuku shrugs, “you’re super pretty.”
“Shut the fuck up, you fucking nerd,” Kacchan replies. He turns back to his noodles, but the entire back of his neck is red. Izuku giggles, his plan seems to be working.
“Whatcha making?” Izuku asks, peering over Kacchan’s shoulder.
“Ramen,” Kacchan replies, “you’re gonna regret this when your memory’s back.”
“Me with memories can suck it,” Izuku decides, “I want Kacchan.”
“You’re so weird,” Kacchan covers the pot and turns around, facing Izuku with his arms crossed, “you lose all your memories of me and try to fucking flirt with me.”
“Again. You’re, like, super hot. Look in a mirror, Kacchan. Look at your reflection in the boiling water over there or something. You are the sexiest man alive.”
Kacchan’s entire face erupts in red. Izuku laughs. “See? You’re so cute!”
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” Kacchan bites out, but the threat loses any heat it might have had because his skin is flaming and he’s blushing a ridiculous amount.
“Kacchan can do anything he wants to me,” Izuku replies dreamily, “but I would prefer to be alive so I can keep watching you cook. You’re so good at this. It’s so sexy.”
Kacchan glares at him.
“You’re so sexy, Kacchan.”
Kacchan bangs his head against the nearest wall.
“Kacchan!” Izuku admonishes, “don’t do that! You’re gonna hurt yourself!”
Kacchan abruptly turns to Izuku, his face back to a more serious expression. He grabs Izuku by the shoulders, eyes boring into him. “What, so I can’t do shit to myself but you’re allowed to run off to fucking nowhere and fight villains all by your damn self?”
Ah. So Kacchan is one of the people who lectures Izuku about this. That means Kacchan is worried about him! Izuku wants to swoon; that’s so sweet of him.
“Sorry, Kacchan,” Izuku tells him, “I’m sure me with memories is sorry too.”
“I know you’re fuckin’ sorry,” Kacchan shakes Izuku by the shoulders, just rough enough to leave Izuku disoriented, “I need you to stop fucking doing it. You’re reckless as shit and you can’t get it in your stupid thick skull that we’re all worried about you. I’m worried about you, you fucking moron. How many times do I have to say it before you can get it through your goddamn head that I care about you, for fuck’s sake?”
Izuku’s jaw drops, and tears glisten in his eyes. This man. Not only is he hot as fuck, he’s also adorable, he can cook, and he’s sweet as hell? He cares about Izuku!
That’s it. Izuku is going to marry this man.
“I got it, Kacchan,” Izuku says, “I promise both me and me with memories will do our best to not be so reckless. I don’t want to cause you this much worry, Kacchan.”
“Good,” Kacchan nods, seemingly appeased, “dumbass.”
Kacchan lets go of Izuku and goes back to his noodles, and Izuku notices the tension in his back. He reaches out and puts his hands on Kacchan’s shoulders, and when he isn’t pushed off he squeezes them. “You’re so tense,” Izuku tells him, “let me help.”
“Are you giving me a fucking massage right now?”
“Mmm-hmm,” Izuku starts on Kacchan’s shoulders, releasing the built-up tension he has. He moves as sensually as he can, grinning as Kacchan turns red again.
“Feels good, Kacchan?”
“I hate you,” Kacchan says, though his entire demeanor says otherwise.
“Do you don’t,” Izuku singsongs, “you caaaaare about me.”
“I regret saying that.”
“It’s okay, Kacchan,” Izuku moves to massage his upper back. He notices Kacchan sigh out and smiles to himself. “I care about you too, you know”
“You literally don’t even know me right now,” Kacchan reminds.
“So?” Izuku asks, “you’re pretty, you’re sweet, and you’re amazing. That’s enough for me to care about you. And I’m sure me with memories cares about you a lot too.”
“Mhn,” Kacchan nods in acknowledgment, “you do. Care about me. Too much.”
“Nothing is ever too much for you, Kacchan,” Izuku disagrees.
Izuku doesn’t have to be looking at Kacchan to know he’s rolling his eyes right now. They lapse into a comfortable silence, and Kacchan allows Izuku to massage his shoulders and back for about five more minutes, and then rolls his shoulders back to shove Izuku off. Izuku goes willingly, but doesn’t leave Kacchan. He hovers around the kitchen, leaning against the counter and watching Kacchan cook. He’s a natural in the kitchen, chopping and stirring effortlessly. It’s really hot.
“You’re making eyes at me right now, aren’t you,” Kacchan says, back turned to Izuku from where he’s bending down to pull a pan out of a cabinet. Izuku keeps looking.
“Sure am,” Izuku replies, utterly shameless, “you’re, like, super fit.”
“That’s it,” Kacchan turns around and shoves a spoon in his face, “get out of my fucking kitchen, weirdly horny no memories Deku. When the hell is this quirk done?”
“I’ll be back to normal tomorrow, I think,” Izuku answers.
“Great,” Katsuki jabs the spoon in the air again, “now get out until dinner.”
“Kacchan,” Izuku smirks, “I love it when you’re demanding.”
Kacchan turns violently red. “Get the fuck out!”
Izuku can’t help but start giggling as he walks out of the kitchen before Kacchan does something painful to him with those big arms of his. Although, Izuku wouldn’t really have a problem with that. Hmmm. Maybe he should’ve stayed in the kitchen?
“How did it go?” Uraraka interrupts his thoughts as Izuku walks back into the common room. She’s accompanied by Todoroki now, and by the look of amusement on his face, it seems he’s been filled in on Izuku’s thing for Kacchan. “Did your flirting work?”
“I think so,” Izuku sits down on their sofa, “Kacchan got super flustered. It was really cute. And then he yelled at me to get out of the kitchen. That was kinda hot.”
“You’re an absolute disaster,” Todoroki tells him, “but Bakugou seems to be into it.”
“He definitely is,” Uraraka agrees, “it’s not like he told you to stop flirting, did he?”
“No, he seemed to kind of like it,” Izuku responds, and then brightens as a bright beam takes over his entire face, “that means my seduction techniques are working!”
Todoroki heaves the most exasperated sigh Izuku has ever heard.
Izuku manages to curb his feelings of intense love for Kacchan during dinner, mostly because they’re surrounded by people and after Uraraka gave him a very stern warning, Izuku learned that Kacchan is definitely not the type to show vulnerability around large groups of people. And getting flustered was definitely on the list of vulnerabilities, so Izuku agreed not to flirt when the class had dinner together. That was easier said than done though, because Kacchan was sitting on a sofa with his friends and every once in a while he’d crack a small smile and it would light up the entire room and Izuku would sigh dreamily. The entire class knew about Izuku’s Kacchan-amnesia predicament, and every time they saw him looking over at Kacchan someone would inevitably snicker a bit. And then Kacchan would look over at him and then he’d roll his eyes and it would be all soft and fond and Izuku would wonder what his relationship with Kacchan is really like.
Whatever it is, Izuku is sure he’s into Kacchan with his memories, too.
After dinner Izuku finds out that he’s on dish duty today, and he along with Tsu and Kaminari dutifully does all of the dishes and puts them in the dishwasher when he’s done. He knows how hard Kacchan worked on the food, so he knows he should work just as hard to clean up the mess they all made while eating it. But Izuku also has something to do, so he gets the dishes done as fast as he can while also actually doing a good job, and then manages to catch Kacchan right as he’s about to go upstairs to his room.
“Kacchan!” Izuku says, panting hard as he stops running, “let’s hang out!”
Kacchan doesn’t look at Izuku, just keeps walking. But he hasn’t told Izuku to go away, so he keeps following him as they walk up the stairs. “I’m going to sleep, Deku.”
“This early?” Izuku’s eyes widen, incredulous, “it’s eight o’clock! Uraraka said you don't go to bed until eight thirty-two!”
“I go to bed at eight fucking thirty,” Kacchan replies, “I fucking take care of myself.”
“Right,” Izuku nods, “that’s really admirable, Kacchan! Good for you!”
“Yeah, whatever,” Kacchan dismisses, “we’re not hanging out.”
“But you don’t sleep for another thirty minutes!” Izuku whines as they climb up to the second floor where Kacchan’s room seems to be. They walk down the hallway as Izuku complains, “I won’t even flirt with you, even though I want to. I just wanna be with you.”
“I am going to bed,” Kacchan snaps as he reaches his door, “I’m tired, Deku.”
“Oh,” Izuku stumbles back, a pang in his chest. He must have pushed too far. He’s probably annoyed Kacchan now, he must be exhausted and probably confused about Izuku’s entire memory loss situation, and Izuku should have been more considerate, and-
“Fuck, Izuku, wait!” Kacchan calls, and Izuku stops walking away. He turns around to find Kacchan standing at the threshold of his room, sighing. “Come in.”
“Are you sure?” Izuku asks, confused, “I’m sorry for pushing you, you don’t have to let me in if you just want to go to sleep. I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped any boundaries-”
“No, it’s nothin’ like that, you fuckin’ worrywart,” Kacchan shakes his head. He gestures for Izuku to come in and so Izuku does, closing the door behind him. Kacchan plops down onto his bed, and Izuku follows. He sits cross-legged in the middle of the bed, and Kacchan lies on his stomach across from him. He looks conflicted about something.
“Kacchan? Are you okay?”
“Fuck it,” Kacchan says, and jumps up in one smooth movement so he’s sitting right next to Izuku, “I have a problem with you fucking flirting, but it’s not what you think it is. You haven’t overstepped boundaries or anything. You obviously think I fuckin’ like it, and that’s the goddamn problem. I-” Kacchan pauses, breath hitching, “I do like it.”
Izuku frowns. “Why is that a problem? Do you not like me or something?”
“No!” Kacchan yells, “I really fucking like you, Deku! That’s the problem!”
“Wha-” Izuku perks up, “you do? Really? Me with my memories?”
Kacchan runs a hand through his spiky hair, seemingly frustrated. “Yeah, Deku. Look, our relationship is really fucking complicated. We’re childhood friends, but I was your bully for most of our goddamn childhood. We’re fine now, I apologized and I’ve been making it up to you. You’ve forgiven me and we’re friends and shit now, but now I also fucking like you and that makes shit complicated because obviously with your memories you don’t like me. So now you’re flirting but it’s only ‘cause your memories are gone and I like it but it’s also shitty and confusing and I can’t believe I’m telling you all of this. You’re gonna fucking remember this tomorrow when you get your memories back.”
“Yeah, I am,” Izuku says softly, trying not to show how much his mind is reeling, how his heart is beating fast in his chest and there’s a signal lighting up in his brain that’s telling him this is right, this is correct. Even with your memories of Kacchan, this is how it’s supposed to be, “but that’s okay, Kacchan. Because I’m sure I like you too.”
Kacchan snorts. “I doubt that. I used to fucking bully you, did you forget that?”
“No, but you’ve made up for it,” Izuku shrugs, “and you’re sorry. And I’m getting this weird itch in my brain telling me that I like you too. And I actually think I’m flirting with you because I like you. And without memories, I had to show it in the only way I could. Now, I don’t know for sure if this is true, but it feels right. It feels true, Kacchan.”
“Deku…” Kacchan drags a hand down his face, “I don’t know what the fuck to believe. I just can’t fucking risk believing this if I don’t know for certain. I can’t.”
“I understand, Kacchan,” and Izuku does. He gets it, he’s sure that he would feel the same way in this situation, “but for now, just know that I like you. I think you’re beautiful and sexy and sweet and a really good cook, which I just cannot get over, and I personally believe that your Deku feels the exact same way. Is that okay, Kacchan?”
“Yeah,” Kacchan exhales, shaky, “yeah. That’s okay, Deku.”
“Good,” Izuku whispers, and because he can’t resist, he leans over and places a soft kiss on Kacchan’s cheek. His deep red blush reappears, and Deku smiles again.
“If I still feel the same in the morning,” which I will, Izuku adds in his head, “I’ll do that again. Except on your mouth. With my mouth. And it’ll be great. Very hot.”
“Shut the fuck up, you perv,” Kacchan says, but he’s smiling a little and that fills Izuku with a brimming, overflowing happiness, “I’m lookin’ forward to it, Deku.”
And then Kacchan takes the pillow back and sets it on his bed, laying back down on it and closing his eyes. “Get out or stay, I don’t fucking care. But I’m sleeping now.”
“So early,” Izuku shakes his head, laughing as Kacchan flips him off with his eyes still closed, “and the fact that you think I would leave is honestly astonishing, Kacchan. Is it creepy to say that you’re probably really pretty when you sleep? Is it creepy to watch you?”
“Yes and yes,” Kacchan replies, turning onto his side so he’s facing away from Izuku, “don’t fucking watch me sleep. Go write in your nerd notebooks or some shit.”
Kacchan’s eyes firmly shut, then, and Izuku knows the conversation is over. So he goes back to his room, takes his notebooks out, and he writes about Kacchan. He wants to record all of his feelings about Kacchan today, so that when he gets his memories back he’ll read it and remember just how much he loves Kacchan. In the very unlikely case he could ever forget. Either way, Izuku wants to remember how he feels about Kacchan now.
Three hours later he finishes writing, a couple of breaks in between to get lost in his thoughts and sigh dreamily some more, and then he steps quietly back into Kacchan’s room and crawls into the bed next to Kacchan. There’s a small noise as the bed dips from Izuku’s weight, and then a strong arm is slipping around Izuku’s torso. Izuku buries his face in his pillow that smells just like Kacchan, and this time it’s his turn to blush.
Izuku wakes up the next morning in Kacchan’s arms. He’s not facing Kacchan, though, so he squirms around until he is. Izuku smiles at Kacchan’s sleeping face; he was right. Kacchan is incredibly pretty as he sleeps, so relaxed and serene. And then it hits Izuku that he remembers Kacchan, and he remembers everything from yesterday and how shameless his flirting was (oh my God) and Kacchan’s confession (OH MY GOD) and how Izuku made a promise to Kacchan to prove to him that he’ll still like him in the morning. And then Izuku’s heart is racing and he’s climbing over Kacchan so he’s straddling his waist and he’s grabbing Kacchan’s (broad, muscled) shoulders and shaking him awake, uncaring of the explosions and yelling that will probably be sent his way.
Kacchan comes awake with a groan. “Fucking hell, Deku, what do you want?”
“I love you!” Izuku yells, “I love you, Kacchan! I told you I would still like you in the morning and I was right! I still think you’re beautiful and sexy and sweet and I love you!”
Kacchan blinks, bleary. And then his eyes snap open as he processes what Izuku said, and he’s sitting upright so Izuku’s sitting squarely in his lap. “What the fuck?”
Izuku wraps his arms around Kacchan’s neck. “I love you.”
“But-” Kacchan starts to protest, but he’s quickly silenced by Izuku’s death glare. Nobody is allowed to doubt Izuku’s love for Kacchan. Especially Kacchan himself.
Kacchan deflates, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “I love you too, Deku.”
“You’re so cute, Kacchan,” Izuku smiles as he leans forward, their noses touching. Izuku’s eyes crinkle in happiness and Kacchan’s melt into something soft.
His face is bright red again.
“Fuck you,” Kacchan says, “you promised me a kiss. Gimme.”
“Oh, Kacchan,” Izuku swoons. He gives Kacchan a firm kiss on the mouth, and then pulls away and grins widely at Kacchan’s dazed look, “I love it when you’re demanding.”