Chapter Text
Light behind the corner
Izuku didn't know when it had actually started. He thought it was around the time Katsuki apologized to him. Since then, Izuku had the feeling that the blonde never left his side. He was there when the others took him back to U.A. and washed him until his skin regained its usual color and his hair its shiny green.
The next day, while talking with All Might, he stood next to him, much closer than normal, as if he was afraid Izuku might faint at any moment, still weak from his time away from U.A. Well, he wasn't wrong. Izuku felt weak but stronger than ever at the same time. It was a different kind of strength, though. It felt like every person at his school had his back no matter what. Confidence and hope had filled his body, and with that, alongside his friends, they were finally ready to fight Shigaraki and All for One.
The war was grueling, but they emerged victorious, although not without setbacks and losses. Mineta, Hagakure, and Shoji didn't make it. They died while protecting the school and the civilians. Izuku felt miserable for a long time afterward. He himself spent a few weeks in the hospital after facing an internal fight in OFA, where he separated Shigaraki from All for One and defeated him once and for all.
Shigaraki was safe, though without his quirk, but he seemed not to mind. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The heavy burden he had carried was lifted from his shoulders. The quirk he had been born with and had struggled with his entire life was now gone. And while All for One could have easily relinquished this responsibility, it never occurred to him to ask for it. Profound words and praises from his master consumed Shigaraki's thoughts until he couldn't help but believe them himself.
He believed that this was right.
He believed that this was the only way he could fit into this world.
On the side of the villains.
Izuku observed Shigaraki attentively, ensuring the other was alright. He somehow felt a sense of responsibility for the other boy, connected through One for All and All for One in a way that "brotherhood" would aptly describe. Since Izuku had never had a brother, he was uncertain about how brothers interacted. To start, he wanted to attempt visiting Shigaraki at the therapy center every week. Time would reveal how things would progress.
In a peculiar manner, the green-haired boy could sense that Katsuki wasn't pleased with how he was handling the ex-villain. Though he never vocalized his displeasure, his body language revealed his reticence. Whenever Shigaraki's name was mentioned, Katsuki would cross his arms over his chest and puff up with a stubborn expression. Yet, he never dared to interfere with Izuku's desire for reconciliation with the other boy. The thought of the respect Katsuki showed him through his actions warmed Izuku's heart. Katsuki never asked to accompany him when he visited Shigaraki. However, as soon as Izuku entered the UA dormitory's door, he noticed the other was already waiting for him.
Not obviously of course. Nonetheless Izuku was happy every time this “coincidence” happened…...
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It continued with the regular movie nights the class decided to host as a way to become even more connected with each other. After the war, they all felt the need to be closer, to bask in feelings of belonging, family, and love. The blonde seemed to be no exception.
"Move," he commanded, standing in front of Izuku, although his gaze was fixed on the brunette at his left. He held a bowl of popcorn in the crook of his arm.
"What will I get for making space?"
"Not even fatter cheeks, round cheeks," he exclaimed, his fist clenched.
"Kac-chan!"
"I wouldn't let you!" Ochako challenged, sliding to the other end of the couch and smiling at the blonde, who huffed in satisfaction.
"Was that really necessary?" Izuku whispered.
"What? You got a problem with me sitting here?"
"N-no! That's not what I mean!"
But even though that was true, Izuku was definitely suspicious about the blonde sitting next to him. Normally, he would prefer Kirishima. The green-haired boy became even more irritated when the other placed the bowl of popcorn between their legs, clearly signaling a shared snack.
He felt like his heart was pounding even harder now than during his fight against All for One, when he took the risk of reaching for some of the sweets. He never took his eyes off the blonde, searching for any reaction, but Katsuki remained still, completely focused on the movie. Slowly, he placed the popcorn in his mouth, and as soon as he tasted it, his eyes widened.
"Oh, that's-"
Katsuki met his gaze and smirked.
"Thought you still liked that crap."
"What is it?" Ochako asked, leaning forward to get Izuku's attention.
"That's the special All Might Sweet and Spicy Popcorn Edition. I—" He interrupted himself and smiled at his former childhood friend. " We used to eat it a lot when we were kids." That was true. It was one of the rare treats they both used to enjoy. He didn't even know they still produced this popcorn. It had been such a long time since he had eaten it, and the taste now threw him back in time. He had so much fun with the blonde, free from any concerns about quirks, school marks, or the life of fighting villains. Somehow, during the movie, sitting next to Kac-chan and munching on the sweet and spicy popcorn, Izuku believed the blonde felt the same way about it...
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A month before their big final exam, Izuku noticed another new habit of the blonde.
"Izuku,"
The moment the younger one walked into the kitchen, a bowl of rice, miso, and grilled fish was already placed on the counter in front of him. It still felt strange to be addressed by his name by the blonde.
"I made too much."
' Again? ' thought Izuku, and he lingered with his eyes on the blonde for a moment too long before turning away to hide his pink cheeks.
"Thanks," he said instead, knowing better than to appear foolish by asking Kac-chan about his peculiar behavior. He preferred to savor the fortune of receiving breakfast every morning, although he couldn't shake off the feeling of it being a form of compensation.
What could he do in return?
He knew what the other boy liked back when they were kids.
But now?
Maybe they could visit the new All Heroes Museum.
"Kac-chan, would you like to go to the museu-"
"No fucking way!"
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Izuku gave up.
He truly attempted to reciprocate, to reward Katsuki for his newfound eagerness to rekindle their friendship.
Because that was precisely what the other was so desperate to accomplish, correct?
However, no matter the effort, Katsuki rejected everything the green-haired boy suggested.
Movie theater? No.
Museum? Absolutely not.
A trip to the mall for shopping? Ridiculous!
He could no longer push aside the mounting disappointment. Maybe he misunderstood the blonde's intentions and he just wanted to be nice to Izuku once in a while but not be friends again. Even though Izuku was elated about the letter more than ever, the notion of not progressing toward friendship restoration remained distressing. He knew he should be content with what he possessed, but nevertheless—
"Kac-chan?" he murmured, somehow apprehensive to initiate this conversation at all.
"Hm?" the other looked up from his breakfast, seated in front of him as usual.
The red eyes made him hesitate, until his courage dwindled to nothing. He sighed.
"Um, never mind. Thank you, I suppose," the blond raised an eyebrow, and Izuku added, "For breakfast. I know it's not because 'you made too much'. You just... want to, I guess?"
Katsuki huffed, then shifted his gaze back to his meal, but after a few seconds, he said, "You're fucking welcome."
Izuku smiled, feeling warmth flooding his heart.
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A sigh.
“What?”
“Well... I was thinking...”
“God.”
“Kac-chan, please!”
“Deku, what the hell do you want?”
Izuku stood outside Katsuki's door, holding a small package with nervous hands.
“I made you something because... I just want to.”
He pressed the green-wrapped package against the blonde's chest and closed his eyes, as if dreading the rejection to come. Because he wouldn’t accept anything from Izuku, would he? He just won’t.
“Tss.” Katsuki took it with a skeptical look. “What’s that?”
“A-a bento.” muttered Izuku. “It’s for tomorrow's trip to the onsens.”
Katsuki looked as if Izuku was a ghost. “I know you can’t cook, dumbass. Are you trying to poison me?”
He almost sighed at the blonde's comment. It was true. He was a failure in the kitchen, but only because he really had no interest in cooking. But now his whole heart was in this bento, so he hoped it wasn't that bad.
“Well, I tried. If you don’t want it, just throw it away”,he said with a shrug, as if it was nothing, but he knew it would kind of shake him if the Kac-chan really refused it.
But to his real surprise, the blonde puffed, blushed a little, and mumbled something about never being a shitty food waster. Izuku considered that a victory.
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"Deku-kun?"
He heard Ochako calling for him in the back of his mind, but his gaze was fixed on the blonde sitting with his friends on a blanket at the far end of the park. Normally, the image wouldn't get all of his attention if it weren't for the small bento box in front of his childhood friend.
"Deku-kun? What's wrong?"
"Kac-chan."
He saw the girl next to him following his gaze, and so did Todoroki and Ida-kun.
"Okay?" She asked, "Is something wrong? I can't see any difference." Katsuki yelled something that sounded like 'don't touch my stuff' at Denki. "Nope, still the same," she added nonchalantly. Todoroki nodded in agreement.
But Izuku's heart pounded with pride because Kac-chan was talking about his bento. Denki wasn't allowed to touch his food, which he had made especially for the blonde. The food his childhood friend considered bad because Izuku 'couldn't cook.' This made his blood run even faster through his veins, especially when the other took one of the rice balls into his mouth and his face lit up with surprise. Surprise and something like his food wasn't as bad as he thought it would be?
They locked eyes for a moment, and Izuku saw that red flush on Katsuki's face again, happiness rising in the green-haired boy. Somehow, he liked seeing that expression again...
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"What are you doing?"
Izuku jolted, startled by the sudden voice right next to his ear, which had gone from far to near.
"Oh, Kac-chan, I was supposed to meet with Todoroki-kun here in the common room to work on the English assessment, but his dad called him, so I had to do it on my own," he said, smiling at the blonde, trying to conceal his nervousness with the smile. Nevertheless, he still wasn't used to this proximity without being yelled at or engaged in some kind of combat training. He was just there, without anger or a bad mood. It was... strange. Nice, but still... strange.
"Hm," Kac-chan grunted. "Well, can't say you didn't need the damn help. Move over."
He pulled the chair next to Izuku and sat down, without mentioning the way he had approached while examining Izuku's work. The green-haired boy couldn't help but blush intensely, feeling his face heat up, not just because he could now smell the pleasant scent of sweetness without it turning to smoke when he used his quirk. It was nice. Not just that, but also Kac-chan's help.
Really nice...
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"Is Kac-chan sick ?"
Izuku had to ask if he had understood Kirishima correctly. But as the red-haired boy nodded with a hint of concern on his face, Izuku's expression soon mirrored the same concern.
Kac-chan was never sick. He was one of the few who took great care of his health. Even when they were little, Katsuki rarely missed school, especially not due to illness.
Itched in his fingers to check for himself, just to confirm if the rumors were true. It was so ludicrous somehow, even if it sounded cruel. Kac-chan never was sick. Not since…
He shook his head no. He can’t remember the last time.
"The flu?" he assumed. Another nod. "Okay." He had no words to express what was going on in his head. He just wanted to go.
"Sorry, Kirishima-kun, I have to go," he said as he jumped up and headed for the elevator.
"Midobro, I won't visit him. He seemed even grumpier than usual. Just gave him some rest."
But he was already behind the metal doors, impatiently pressing the button for Kac-chan's floor. While waiting, a thought crossed his mind. What was he going to do? He had never visited the blonde before. Well, he had never had a reason to. But now... Was Kac-chan being sick reason enough? Maybe... but maybe not enough?
When the doors opened, he hesitated for a second before pressing the button for the common room. Only a few minutes later, the door to the second floor opened again, and Izuku held a tray with some fresh ginger and lemon tea. He knew Katsuki hated that flavor for tea, although he liked ginger and lemon individually (don't ask him why). But knowing that these were ingredients for a better immune system, Izuku chose them anyway. He just hoped the blonde would understand.
"Kac-chan?" he knocked at the door. After no answer, he considered trying to open the door. Maybe the other was sleeping. Normally, the blonde would yell at him if he didn't want him to enter, right?
So he turned the knob, and the door opened. "Kac-chan?" he asked because the room was dark. The curtains were drawn. Only a small light was on, barely illuminating the furniture in the room. It took him a moment to decide what he should do. His eyes wandered to the tray in his hand.
Hmm, the tea was already made, so why back out now?
Katsuki wouldn't yell at him for being kind, would he?
His thoughts were interrupted by a grumble. The ball under the duvet moved and Katsuki's red face appeared.
"Who the hell?" His voice was hoarse.
"Kac-chan, it's me. I heard you were ill." He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, feeling awkward in this unfamiliar room. Suddenly, he remembered the tray with the tea in his hand. How could he forget when that was his reason for being there?
Stupid Izuku.
"I made you tea." He held up the metal tray for Katsuki to see and placed it on his nightstand. "Do you need anything else?" Katsuki was looking at him, then at the tray, then at him again. It seemed like he had a hard time processing Izuku's words. Without saying anything, he lifted his blanket just enough to grab Izuku's shirt. And then...nothing.
"Um, Kac-chan?"
Izuku didn't dare to move. Maybe the blonde was trying to blast him out of the room? But... he didn't?
"Why-" Kac-chan coughed. "Why the hell didn't you wear a damn facemask?"
"Um," For some reason, this thought had never crossed Izuku's mind. He never even considered staying in the blonde's room for more than a few seconds.
"Ugh," Katsuki groaned and tugged at Izuku's shirt, a clear hint for him to sit down. When Izuku hesitantly complied, Katsuki still didn't seem pleased.
"Turn around, Idiot. I didn't want to breathe my flu right into your face."
So Izuku turned, leaning against Katsuki's bed, trying to suppress the shiver that appeared every time he got closer than usual to the blonde.
He waited, but soon he heard the uniform breathing behind him. Katsuki was asleep.
What just happened?
Why was he here?
Izuku didn't dare to move a muscle, too afraid to wake the other with any movement. Because even though this whole situation was incredibly strange, he somehow felt cherished. He felt special.
Katsuki wanted him to be nearby when he was feeling sick. He showed affection toward the green-haired boy. He displayed emotions.
The next thought made Izuku's heart ache a little. Because he felt guilty for wanting this situation to last at least a little longer. Not to end just yet.
Katsuki shifted, his breath now closer to Izuku's neck. Izuku suppressed the urge to turn around but couldn't wipe the smile off his face...
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"Dumbass."
"I-" A cough. "I'm sorry."
Katsuki placed a wet and cold cloth on his forehead. He never imagined the other would be so caring.
"Your own fault for not wearing a damn facemask, idiot."
Izuku huffed under his blanket.
"B-but you're not wearing one now, Kac-chan."
"Shut the hell up!" He sat down and turned around, leaning against Izuku's bed frame. It kind of made Izuku happy to be on the other side of the situation, which had happened a few days ago. He didn't even think much about it when he moved closer until he could smell the blonde's distinctive scent. Smiling silently, he closed his eyes when he saw Katsuki's ears turning pink but didn't say anything at all…
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"Have you decided?"
Izuku looked up from his textbook. Ochako, followed by Ida, approached his table.
"What do you mean?"
"A job, dummy. Have you chosen which agency you want to join? I mean, after the fight against All for One, you clearly have all the options laid out in front of you."
Izuku grimaced.
Although everyone would have thought he was happy about having such a wealth of choices, in truth, he was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
He. Just. Couldn't. Make. Up. His. Mind!
He felt helpless considering all the options, all the possibilities of becoming the hero he had always wanted to be. Which agency would help him reach his greatest potential? Where would his skills and quirk be most needed to ensure a peaceful life for everyone? Who would be the best fit to work alongside him effectively on missions without any failures, ideally?
He was scared and excited at the same time. Last night, he had filled a notebook with pros and cons for each hero agency he was considering working with.
But now, he felt even more indecisive...
For a moment, his eyes shifted to the blonde in front of him. He was surprised to find Kac-chan already looking at him. They locked eyes, hesitating for a second before Izuku reached into his backpack to retrieve the said notebook, while Katsuki turned his chair around, already anticipating that he was meant to examine it.
"I've been thinking," he turned the notebook around, immediately drawing the attention of three pairs of eyes to his handwriting. "About working for Sir Nighteye's agency with Centipeder as the head. You know, because of what happened and because Todoroki-kun will be working at Endeavor's agency, and Kac-chan will be with Best Jeanist. I thought it would be good for us to split up and cover different parts of the city, ensuring it's in good hands at all times. But... I'm not sure."
He allowed the others time to peruse his notes, not missing the amused smile on Ochako's face or the eye roll from Kac-chan.
"I must say, it's really commendable how much thought you've put into your future," Ida commented.
"Thank you."
"Tch, I guess your choice won't be so bad, nerd."
Izuku's eyes lit up at Katsuki's comment, already feeling validated by the blonde's words.
"Oh?" Ochaco nudged the explosive boy next to her. "Could it have something to do with Best Jeanist and Centipeder occasionally collaborating?"
"Huh?"
Katsuki leaped out of his chair, making Izuku retreat, nearly losing his balance with his own chair.
Oh. He... he didn't know about that.
"Is that true?"
Izuku made Katsuki pause in his movement toward Ochako.
A blush spread across his face, mingling with a frowning expression. It looked strangely funny.
"What the hell? How should I know, shithead?"
"But I'm pretty sure about it. It was in the news a few weeks ago," Ochako asserted.
"Hm."
Izuku added a new point to the 'Pro' list for Sir Nighteye's Agency: 'Working with Kac-chan.'
"What did you write, Nerd?"
"Yeah, we want to see it too!"
But he just smiled to himself as he gazed at his words, feeling more certain about his choice now...
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"Here!"
Izuku startled when Katsuki opened his dorm room door one Friday night without hesitation and shamelessly tossed a stack of papers right on top of Izuku's homework books. Izuku leaned back, giving a confused look at what the blonde had brought into his room.
"Apartment ads?"
"Yeah, Sherlock. I guess you didn't even think about where to live when U.A. is going to kick you out?"
Well... Kac-chan wasn't wrong. He had put some thought into it, but with the upcoming exams, he had been too engrossed in his studies to really look for any living space. If things got worse, he would just move back in with his mother until he earned enough money to rent an apartment.
Now, faced with the silent criticism of his childhood friend, he felt foolish for his half-hearted deliberation.
He skimmed through the ads and frowned.
"But, Kac-chan... those are too big and too expensive."
"Tss, it's for two people, idiot."
What? For... two?
Slowly, very slowly, he turned his head to scan the face of his childhood friend. He was met with an averted gaze and stubbornly crossed arms. Because of the low light from his nightstand lamp, he wasn't sure if the blonde might be blushing, a circumstance that had been happening more frequently lately. Izuku was curious about it but couldn't really put his finger on why it was happening lately.
And he couldn't figure out why Katsuki had given him ads for more than one person.
"But who-"
"This one is perfect," Kac-chan interrupted, pointing at one paper with a spacious living room and a small balcony. "The apartment is right between our agencies. Twenty minutes' walk or a short train ride. Two bedrooms, one bath, though, but I guess it will do."
"Uhm... okay?" he mumbled, still confused about why Kac-chan was talking with him about apartments. But as he went through the papers, he quickly agreed with the blonde's choice. It was nice, big, and bright. The (half) price would be manageable as soon as the first salary came in. Still, the question lingered as to who...
"Good. I'll write to the damn landlord, so hopefully we can take a look tomorrow."
And with that, the blonde walked through his door and slammed it shut behind him.
Izuku was left in silence, left with his own thoughts.
His brain churned until it clicked.
"HAAAAHHH?"
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A day later, he signed a contract.
He had never seen Katsuki so pleased.
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—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blood ran down the street like a small river, fighting its way through the dry desert. Lifeless bodies littered his path to destiny, chilling his own blood as it coursed through his veins. Amidst the city's ruins, a laugh echoed, and Izuku fixed his gaze on the man before him. His face, though disfigured, radiated satisfaction. He smiled at Izuku, despite being blind. His voice, filled with delight, sent shivers down Izuku's spine, vibrating in his very bones.
"Now, you're mine!"
"Oi, Deku."
Izuku blinked with irritation as he realized he was sitting alone in his classroom, with only the blonde standing in front of his desk. Arms crossed, Katsuki clearly awaited a response to something Izuku hadn't heard.
"Hm?" Izuku cleared his throat and swallowed the lump, along with the remnants of the dream that had consumed his thoughts. "Sorry. What did you say?"
His eyes met those of his childhood friend, although his attention was still partially drawn to the haunting memory of his last dream. He could still hear that dreadful voice echoing in his head.
"I said you look like shit."
Kac-chan leaned over his desk, allowing Izuku to feel the warmth of the blonde's breath against his face.
"Oh."
It was evident he didn't know how to respond to that. He did feel unwell after a night with almost no sleep, so he wasn't surprised he didn't look as lively as usual.
Katsuki grunted at his restrained response.
"Others mentioned you were wandering around last night?"
Yes, he had been restless after such dreams, always feeling the need to move rather than lie in bed, waiting for the next nightmare to haunt him. He felt guilty for waking up some of his classmates.
"Nightmare," he admitted, aware of his friend's stubbornness and the futility of evading the truth any longer. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
"Often?" Katsuki asked.
"Just... sometimes. When I've had a bad day, I suppose."
Katsuki hummed, as if deep in thought. It gave Izuku a moment to stand up.
"Never mind, it's the last few nights at the dorms before the exams, so-"
A hand in his hair interrupted him. It was just a brief moment of awkward stillness that held them both until Katsuki moved his fingers through Izuku's green curls, massaging his temples in the process.
"Fucking spar with me, nerd."
Izuku frowned.
"We should probably study for our exams."
"First spar, then study time."
Izuku grumbled, uncertain about Katsuki's idea. He didn't feel strong enough for a rigorous training session with Kac-chan. He was exhausted from the lack of sleep.
"I don't know if this is a good idea, Kac-chan..."
The blonde smirked.
"Trust me, nerd, my ideas are always damn good!"
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In fact, it wasn't a good idea. Izuku had never felt this exhausted, never had so many sore muscles complaining about his movements before.
However, he fell asleep without any nightmares haunting him this time at all. He smiled when he woke up, still bearing bruises from his training with his childhood friend but feeling both relaxed and rejuvenated. When he arrived in class, he thanked Katsuki and decided to consult with him in case he had another sleepless night.
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"Deku-kun!"
Uraraka threw herself at Izuku with full force. After so much intense training with Kac-chan, her strength was not to be underestimated, so the green-haired boy gasped for air while holding the girl close to his chest.
"Haha, what are you doing?" he laughed, looking down at her.
She just squeezed him a little tighter, snuggling into his neck.
"Ahhh, I'm just happy this silly exam is finally over," she sighed. "I just need a hug to calm down, I guess."
Izuku smiled at her words, feeling relieved as well but also a bit sad that his time at U.A. was finally over. They were at their graduation ceremony, drinking and dancing while discussing their future hero careers. It was the last day before returning home and enjoying a well-deserved holiday.
"Also," Uraraka interrupted his thoughts, "I think I owe you a favor." She leaned back, looked somewhat mischievous, and winked at his confused face. Then she stood on her tiptoes and planted a peck on his cheek.
"Wha-uh, what are you doing?" Izuku blushed deeply, stammered, and held the smaller girl at arm's length. "What are you doing?" he finally whispered, leaning forward to keep their conversation as private as possible. But Uraraka just chuckled, glanced over Izuku's shoulder, and grinned.
"Ohhh," she drawled the sound, visibly trying not to laugh. "You'll see. Thank me later." And with that, she waved goodbye and ran over to the other girls, who (he noticed with surprise) were looking at them with interest.
"Deeeeekuuuuu."
Izuku flinched at the menacing, low voice behind him but didn't dare to turn around. Just a second later, he felt a muscular arm wrap around his neck and hot breath against his ear.
"What the heck were you doing with Round Face, huh?"
"U-uhm, nothing. It was-
" That didn't look like nothing, you damn nerd!" The arm pressed hard against his neck, causing Izuku to fidget wildly.
"P-please, I can't bre-breathe."
"Wow, Bakubro," Kirishima intervened and tugged at Katsuki's arm, finally allowing Izuku to draw air into his lungs. "What's gotten into you, man?"
"That damn nerd was giving kisses to cheeks."
"What are you talking about? It wasn't-urg." The arm returned with full force.
"Oh yeah? Midoriya's now a playboy?" Kirishima grinned, a hint of joke and joy in his eyes. He didn't believe a word of what Kac-chan just said. Poked his elbow into Izuku's ribs, he pursed his lips. "May I have a kiss too?"
"WHAT THE HELL, SHITTY HAIR?" Katsuki tossed Izuku aside as if he were a sack of potatoes and then chased after the red-haired boy.
"See?" Ochaco suddenly stood next to him. "Everything according to plan," she said determinedly, her eyes following the boys who were still running around the common room.
No, Izuku didn't understand a thing.
What the hell was going on here?
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM, ROUNDFACE!"