Chapter Text
Class 1-C, while not all of their members — or even many of them, for that matter, were interested in transferring into heroics or were even friends with Hitoshi and Izuku, they still wanted to see a member or two of their own class transfer into the class, show them how far you could go without flashy Quirks. Yamada-sensei had done a good job on instilling class loyalty into the students and they all got along well enough, even if Izuku wouldn’t really call anyone else in the class friends.
(Hitoshi, at least, seemed to be friendly with Agoyamato and Togeike, and Izuku was glad for it. Hitoshi needed more friends. Izuku ignored the little detail where he could benefit from more friends, too. That was out of his hands, out of Toshi’s hands. If the others wanted to miss out... well, at least Izuku liked himself now. It was more than he could say for before UA. He was happier. What right did he have to complain?)
Class 1-C was far from the only class to crowd outside Class 1-A’s door at the end of the school day — many members of the other general education classes did; Class 1-B joined in as well, even some support students and business class students did, though they presumably had their own reasons.
Honestly, Izuku didn’t think this was necessary, since there was two open spots, but apparently Kacchan and a few other classmates continued to be incredibly insufferable and Shouto wanted Kacchan in particular to be at least mildly inconvenienced for at least ‘even ten seconds’, and it didn’t apparently take much to get it organized — though the credit lay with Hitoshi for this one; he was the one who did all the work on this little project, apparently incensing a blond in Class 1-B and getting some pink haired girl in 1-H curious, along with promoting general education supremacy in the other gen ed classes, and just like that, everyone was up in arms.
They all crowd up against the door, Izuku making a point of hanging back, knowing anything else is just asking for an explosion to the face — not that he isn’t confident in his ability to avoid one at this point and both Shouto and Hitoshi’s determination to beat Kacchan’s ass into the dirt if he even so much as tried, but Izuku just didn’t want to deal with that. Why watch Kacchan start something needlessly when he could just stand back here out of the way and let Shouto and Hitoshi have have their fun?
He leaned back against the wall, rubbing his fingers against the ends of his uniform jacket, (he longed for his tangle) and waited for them to be done.
———
Hitoshi lingered near the front, watching as some girl in the 1-A classroom asked what was going on and why they were all there. A blond — and this could only be the infamous Bakugou Katsuki, with his arrogance and the red eyes and over-gelled spiked hair (and he knows he’s one to talk, but this is someone who hurt Izuku, and he’ll hit at anything he can), rolls his eyes and scoffs.
“They’re here to scope out the class that beat out villains right before the big event. They know we’re the only real competition.” Bakugou makes eye contact with Hitoshi, and those red eyes narrow. Hitoshi wonders if he knows about his friendship with Izuku, and then the smallest of explosions pop in his hands. His gaze doesn’t wander for a second. “Now, back off extras, before I make you.”
Hitoshi’s smile widens. “Did you know that if you’re not in the hero course, if you make it onto the podium, you can transfer into the Hero Course? They’ll even cut out current hero course students if they have to — of course, you have two open spots already, since one of your classmates was a pervert and the other had a building dropped on her in the first week by... gee, who was it again? Well, you sure talk a big game for someone who can’t control his Quirk, Explody Boy.”
Hitoshi laughs when Bakugou snarls in rage. “What, you make threats, but you can’t actually follow through — did you really think I’d take that seriously? What do you think would happen to your precious spot in the hero course if you assault someone? Anyway, just a warning — that transferring in thing? It works in reverse too. If you don’t do so hot, you might just find yourself in general education. Don’t worry, Yamada-sensei made plenty of open spots, so you won’t be at risk of kicking anyone out.”
Hitoshi took a minute to look over the class and evaluate the expressions. Glasses looked absolutely aghast and offended; Shouto delighted. Bakugou was bright red with rage, a red-haired boy (and that color couldn’t be natural judging by the slightest bit of roots; this must be the lackey that follows Bakugou like a puppy) holding him back — literally. Looks like he did his job then. Time to really drive in the nail for Bakugou before he goes, and then any others who want to pick a fight can have their fun. Hitoshi knows that Class 1-B blond must be raring to go. Pinky from support probably just wanted a peek; she just seemed like a wild child who lived to watch trouble and cause trouble.
“Well, consider this my declaration of war. I’ll be taking one of those open seats, so make sure you give me a good fight for it.” He pauses, then glances over to Shouto. “Shouto, you coming? Izuku reserved a private study area for us at that new place down the street.”
Shouto slings his bag over his shoulder and shoots Bakugou a smirk as his gaze darts over to him at the mention of his name in conjunction with Izuku’s. “Yeah, of course. I’ve been dying to try their cold soba.”
Shouto’s expression softens as he turns his gaze to Hitoshi. Hitoshi has to actively try not to laugh as Class 1-A, save Bakugou (who’s actively attempting to explode the red-haired boy now), looks dumbfounded at the concept of Todoroki Shouto being friends with someone. Hitoshi tries to keep his smug expression up in front of 1-A, but as soon as Shouto reaches out and pats his shoulder, a job well done, he knows his expression must turn syrupy, his cheeks bright red. He hurries to turn away and vacate the door, Izuku rushing over to join their trio and the loud blond from 1-B rushing the door to proclaim something about how 1-A is arrogant and Bakugou more so, Pinky from support peeking in eagerly.
He can hear Bakugou shrieking in rage even though they’ve put some distance between them and the doorway and Shouto’s laughter is bright and clear as he hangs off Hitoshi’s arm. Hitoshi’s face is warm, and Izuku is bright red as he looks at the two of them. It’s a good look on them both, and Hitoshi thinks he’s having the time of his life with the two of them, but then again —
Hitoshi thinks this almost every day with them, and how can he not?
How was he to know that day when Izuku stood up for him in class it would start this, that it would give Hitoshi the best relationship of his life, this odd trio he never expected?
He has no regrets... Well, except maybe that he didn’t talk the loud blond into getting him a picture of Bakugou blowing up, he thinks when he hears explosions down the hallway.