Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Deku's eyes quickly opened.

His eyelids fluttered as he yawned and stretched. He was greeted by an All Might poster smiling at him.

Not related to the poster was a weird feeling in his chest. He had constantly been waking up... weird... lately.

There wasn't a surefire word to describe it but it was unusual, to say the least. It felt like excitement and anxiety all mixed into one. And it had been plaguing his every waking moment for weeks.

His eyes landed on the clock and saw it was a few hours earlier than when he usually woke up. He wondered why he woke up so early and pinned it on the dream he had; the dream was already forgotten but the excitement of it still remained.

He jumped out of bed and opened his door.

The corridor was silent.

Dorms on his floor were... interesting.

Mineta usually stayed up really late doing gods know what, Aoyama was probably still 'getting his beauty rest' and Tokoyami was probably awake just staring at his ceiling.

Like he said, interesting.

He passed their doors, his All Might slippers scuffed across the wood floor and he slowly descended down the stairs. He was surprised to hear a faint clank from the common room.

"Someone must be awake," he whispered to himself, wondering who would even be awake this hour.

Even the usual diligent people (*cough* *cough* Iida) would try to sleep in as long as they could.

Light poked out from the bottom of the staircase.

He tried his best to go down the stairs and not disturb anyone, awake or not, but the last step always seemed to get him as he missed the step and lost his balance.

He almost yelped like a confused puppy who had suddenly fallen off the side of the bed.

His eyes quickly looked to see if anyone was around to witness.

Almost on queue, he met mismatched eyes that had no kind of contempt behind them.

"Good Morning Midoriya," Todoroki said as he looked up from his breakfast. He waved and seated himself next to Todoroki; sighing in relief that Todoroki was the only one awake.

Though he could ask why he was awake this early, he didn't worry himself with that.

"That looks good Todoroki!" He said smiling as he eyed their breakfast. It was traditional but well made and Deku suddenly realized that he was definitely hungry.

Todoroki nodded and started to scoot his breakfast over, "You may have some if you please." 

"Oh no that's okay! I can get my own food!" Deku said waving his hands around as if he was shooing flies away; Todoroki was rather kind despite his cold exterior. Deku smiled at the pun and then looked back towards Todoroki sipping his soup rather loudly, "Say," Deku paused and looked around. 

The common room was empty and he didn't see Lunch Rush anywhere in sight, "where did you get that food so early in the morning?"

"ICYHOT I GOT THAT SHITTY SOBA YOU LIKE SO MUCH DONE"

A loud voice rang through the dining room with a sense of familiarity. 

Deku quickly jerked his head to meet the fierce eyes of Kacchan. Deku had a double-take as he saw a very angry Kacchan with messy hair, wearing an apron, and brandishing two plates of food; he looked like a housewife.

 Deku smiled to himself at the sight, almost letting out a chuckle. Then the realization hit.

"Todoroki this is where you get your food?!" Todoroki looked up and nodded like it was normal. 

Deku opened his mouth to ask a question that he could catch in the whirlwind of queries in his mind but was quickly interrupted by Kacchan, "TODOROKI IS JUST A BASTARD WHO CAN'T MAKE HIS OWN FOOD," Kacchan placed the bowl gently in front of Todoroki as Todoroki nodded in thanks as he focused back on what he was eating, "HE'S JUST A USELESS FUCKER WHO CAN'T DO SHIT" 

Deku noticed the careful nature that Kacchan had taken on almost subconsciously. The way he laid the plate down was so jarring compared to his screaming. 

A giggle almost slipped out; it almost felt like a comedy.

Kacchan began to ramble about how Todoroki was dumb and couldn't cook and all that. 

Although Deku was convinced that Bakugou probably never gave him the chance to even show if he was good or not. Deku looked towards Todoroki to see if he was going to say anything.

Todoroki seemed to think this was normal so this must have been going on for a rather long time. Deku's small smile faltered.

"Thank you Katsuki." 

Deku could swear that Kacchan self-imploded. Deku was probably going to explode in surprise. 

"WHEN THE FUCK DID I SAY YOU COULD USE MY NAME YOU HALF AND HALF BASTARD?!" Kacchan almost knocked the soba off the table with his thrust to grab Todoroki's shirt. 

Deku was frozen, so much was going on in this situation; Kacchan making food for Todoroki, Todoroki being calm while something so unusual and unorthodox was happening, and then Todoroki being on a first-name basis! 

Deku wasn't even on a first-name basis. Was Kirishima on a first-name basis? Deku had heard Kaminari calling Kacchan, 'Kacchan', once. Deku had known Kacchan the longest but they weren't exactly the best of friends... how close were Kacchan and Todoroki? Why were they both... oh... they had been going to that license training. That's why they had both been awake at the same time, and why Kacchan was taking care of Todoroki, and... and why Todoroki called Kacchan by his first name.

"At provisional license training, you called me by my name. I remember that much," Todoroki said evenly as he reached for his almost fallen soba. 

Kacchan's eyes were filled with murder as he was just straight out ignored. His face was scrunched in some sort of thinking until he seemed to have remembered whatever incident Todoroki was referring to. 

He immediately pushed Todoroki away by the collar and started heading back to the kitchen. 

He was still disheveled but Deku noticed that he was actually in his uniform and had his collared shirt folded up to his elbows, "Jesus you goddamn idiot. Your hero name is your given name. Now go be a useless dumbass with the other useless nerd." 

"I apologize for the misunderstanding Bakugou."

 Bakugou flipped the two off and headed back to the kitchen. 

Deku finally seemed to take a breath.

 Wait, why was he holding his breath in the first place?

 He looked down. He didn't understand why his heart was beating so fast. He wasn't the one being yelled at this time! He wasn't the one being teased!

...

Was that the reason?

Was he so accustomed to Kacchan doing things like that that he... No that wasn't it! How could he be jealous of something like that! Why would he want someone to be mean to him? 

Well, Kacchan was never mean to him. Well, he was.

But even when he told him to swan dive off the roof, he never took it seriously. If anything he worried more about what would happen to Kaccchan if he actually did it. Like he would be blamed for his death and it was honestly stupid to say anything like that seriously. And Kacchan usually stuck up for him and would only really make fun of him when he was in his direct way. Telling others to let me dream.

Was this just rationalizing? 

Kacchan used to be his best friend! When he would be bullied by others Kacchan would just stick up for him in the meanest way as to keep his reputation. 

Deep down Kacchan still cared. 

He was still kind. 

Kacchan was kind before. He was always kind. Seeing him being so nice to Todoroki... it made him... there was an ache in his stomach that Deku didn't know stemmed from him wanting to be friends with Kacchan or if it stemmed from the memories when they were those good friends. This ache had been brewing in him. It felt strangely reminiscent of the weird feeling he had been feeling for a while now. 

He just didn't know what it was. 

He felt so happy and sad and confused and excited and rejected all at once. It felt like every emotion in history was just spilling over after years of torment and confusion. It probably had to do with... that night. The fight. 

Kacchan finally unbottled everything he had been thinking and maybe this was Deku's unbottling. He had been noticing everything about Kacchan lately... him sitting in front of him was rather distracting. 

Whenever Deku met his ruby eyes or saw his back slouch from boredom or heard him huff in irritation or when... he did really anything. It felt like ever since the fight, the adrenaline that came with it never ceased. Like he still had to analyze Kacchan and notice every little thing he did. Like his heart had to beat harder whenever he was around.

"Midoriya?"

Deku snapped out of his staring into the void and spiraling worries. 

Todoroki was giving him a blank look; it was always so hard to read him. 

"Yes!" 

His voice cracked slightly and the contrast between the two's voices became overwhelmingly apparent. 

Todoroki had such a serious and cool voice while Deku was stuck with a mumbling speaking pattern and a squeaky voice. 

Todoroki stared at him for a second and then gave a small smile. 

Deku was flustered but secretly thought 'crisis averted'. 

He gave a small laugh and smiled back; the weight feeling from his chest and the weird feeling that had completely engulfed his mind were gone. 

Todoroki turned back to his meal and Deku laughed at the way Todoroki could just comfortably end a conversation. Todoroki brought the cold soba to his mouth and said,

"Yeah, you were saying that all out loud."

Deku's laughter turned into coughings of horror.

 If Deku wasn't flustered before he definitely was now. 

It felt like all of the blood rushed to his head and his head completely exploded. 

How could he do that? In front of Todoroki no less! God what was wrong with him. 

He tried to spew out reasonings but it all came out as nervous choking. Oh god, what will Todoroki think of him? Todoroki will think that he's obsessed with Kacchan! He'll know that he's jealous of the sudden closeness that they have! He'll get the wrong idea about all of this. Oh god, why was he always like this?! 

"Midoriya... Do you have a crush on Bakugou?"

Chapter Text

It was an honest question. 

Momo told him that what Midoriya was feeling was something called a crush. 

A crush meant you liked a certain individual. It was when they made you feel a way that other people didn't. 

The feeling was foreign to Shōto. But it wasn't a malicious form of foreign. 

Shōto would be lying if he didn't say it was the best feeling he had ever felt. 

Maybe the only good feeling he had ever felt.

Midoriya was freaking out and rambling like always. 

Shōto had half the mind to ignore his words because he was more infatuated with Midoriya's body. 

He constantly spoke with his hands. 

It was like a sort of code that had some way of communication. 

Social cues were not his area of expertise and he was the first to admit that half of the time, he didn't understand why people were upset with him. The reasoning could very well be that before he flat out didn't care about others but now for some odd reason, he wanted to know someone fully. 

Midoriya had a language of his own and Shōto was determined to learn it. 

Shōto studied all of him. He wanted to understand what his body language was truly saying. 

Midoriya knew so much about him but Shōto didn't know anything about Midoriya. 

Midoriya could read him like a book despite the almost impenetrable seal on the pages. Like he was the first one in a long time to even attempt to see who he truly was.

Even Momo, someone he had known for a rather long period, didn't get him to open up that quickly. 

Momo was probably his first friend. 

Her family was involved with Shōto's father and she was the first person to ever befriend him on grounds that weren't his lineage, quirk, or look. 

The two were prevented from talking most times but at conventions and meetings that they both attended as children, they obtained long friendly glances and exchanged what few words they could. 

Shōto always wondered if Momo was equally as lonely as he was. 

He remembers how Momo would light up if she saw him and politely walk towards him. Then she would talk about her life quietly as if she was scared someone would hear. 

She would just rant about her problems, her dreams, and her secret hobbies: things that she could probably never discuss with anyone else. 

In turn, Shōto would sometimes talk about himself. 

It was a relief to have someone to confide in even if it was just for a few minutes every few months. But then Tōya died and Shōto stopped attending conferences and all communication died out. 

Everything worsened after that so it was no surprise that he grew apathetic. 

And even then he was rather cold to her when they were reunited and attended class together; the years slightly soured his ideas of relationships. Looking back, he regretted his attitude towards Momo because her isolation was probably just as bad as his. 

Things only turned around for Shōto when he met Midoriya. 

In reality, his intervention with Midoriya was the event that allowed him to gain the good friendship Shōto had with Momo. 

He was probably the reason for any friendship that he had gained.

It was no wonder that Midoriya was so attractive.

Despite his incredible reputation of kindness, Midoriya was still anxious and nervous about talking to people. 

Shōto shifted his weight to completely face Midoriya as he watched Midoriya freak out. 

He wondered why he was freaking out but he wasn't really complaining as it was rather endearing. 

Midoriya continued to blush and kept choking on his own words. His voice pitched up and cracked as his face scrunched up in anxiety. His messy unbrushed green hair shook wildly. 

It was rather cute.

"Well do you?" Shōto asked as he smiled, reaching for the tea that he had made to share with Bakugō. 

Shōto almost chuckled through the tea as he realized that Midoriya always seemed to make him smile. 

There were a few others but Midoriya especially. 

Midoriya had a way about him that made Shōto want to tell him his everything. 

Maybe that's why he suddenly told him... well Shōto did tell him his everything. 

He only wished that Midoriya would tell him in return which was odd as he rarely cared for others past. 

Midoriya was a very peculiar person. He looked like an open book but if you examine carefully, some pages were ripped out. 

Maybe Shōto was thinking too much about this 'open book' metaphor. 

Momo was where he got most information from but sometimes her metaphors and allegories made no sense. But there was just something about Midoriya that he couldn't figure out.

Midoriya stopped and slowly started to lower his arms from over his head. 

Oh, he must have finally recognized my question, Shōto said to himself watching them with heightened curiosity. 

He looked to be in deep thought. 

Shōto tilted his head slightly. What was he thinking about? 

Midoriya was always thinking and Shōto was convinced that his brain went a million miles per hour. 

Midoriya was probably the smartest person he knew but Midoriya just couldn't put his thinking into words. Midoriya was always thinking but then he would just use his instincts and abandon all of that thinking when he fought. 

Why was Midoriya thinking so much about this? Why was he so flustered?

Would Shōto be like this if he got asked who his crush was? 

He watched Midoriya and the facial expressions that told much more than his words funnily enough. 

The blush filled his face. 

The infinite freckles that dotted his cheeks but four on each cheek were the most distinct. 

The way his soft green hair curled in a messy yet beautiful fluff on his head. 

The sea-green eyes that were usually filled with some type of strong emotion were now in the still and silenced way Shōto's eyes were. 

Midoriya was beautiful. He wasn't beautiful in a way someone would describe a woman. 

Midoriya was beautiful in a more dynamic, breathtaking... extraordinary way. 

Everything about him was beautiful.

Shōto wanted to see more. And understand what was so special about this thing called a crush.

Shōto put his right hand on Midoriya's cheek and felt the heat radiate off of him. 

The heat only rapidly increased when they locked eyes. 

Shōto was constantly told that his eyes were piercing and intimidating so he tried his best to soften his gaze; staring into Midoriya's eyes was also different than looking at anyone else. 

Eye contact was always hard for him before but he felt so much better looking at him. 

The redness of Midoriya's face wasn't stopping. 

Then a brilliant idea struck him.

"You just need to cool off."

He sent out a steady cool from his right hand to cool Midoriya down. 

They sat like that for a moment. And for a moment Shōto felt something he had never felt before. For a moment he could stay like this ceaselessly. For a moment he would love to be Midoriya's personal cooler for as long as Midoriya was hot. 

A crush is just someone you like. 

It's easy to identify. 

It's when you enjoy being their friend but want to be closer than that. 

From what Shōto had heard it's when you like someone special and want to be with them in a way that friends are not. 

Momo is his best friend but he knew that he didn't want that kind of special bond with her. 

Momo was the one who told him all of this but he still doesn't understand why it is such a big deal. 

It wasn't a big deal that that's how he felt about Midoriya. 

What was so important about this 'liking' thing? 

Surely it wasn't that momentous of a statement and there was no harm in saying it aloud. 

Maybe Midoriya didn't know that. 

Shōto should show Midoriya how to do it then.

"I like you Midoriya."

Chapter Text

Fuck why was that shitty nerd awake at this hour?

He threw the towel that was slung over his shoulder onto the counter and turned to the nikuman he was making.

Bakugou covered his face as he caught his breath. 

The blush that filled his face finally stopped. 

That was fucking embarrassing. 

First name and no fucking honorifics. 

How was he so... so fucking casual? 

No one ever even dared to pull that shit on him before. 

No one even called him Katsuki anymore. 

After middle school, there was no one who knew him as Katsuki anymore. 

Just the old hag and his dad. 

Being called Katsuki wasn't that unusual but it was just so... hearing the way he said Katsuki... he was so tempted to let him say it all he wanted. 

Icyhot just had a nice voice and Bakugou wouldn't mind hearing that voice calling his given name. 

If shitty Deku wasn't there then... shit why he is always there when he just wants to... fuck... the problem here is Bakugou. 

It was his own fault that he was letting something as stupid as indifference gets to him. 

Just because the mornings were the only time that they actually were alone and the only time he actually found peace, doesn't mean that he should get so pissed about being ignored in favour of some shit nerd.

But still...

Why were they always together? Icyhot was so quiet and Deku was so annoying; how did they even become friends? 

Why do they have to...? Fuck... he's not... he's just being... Bakugou wasn't... he didn't. 

Why did they have to always be so close? 

Why did they have to share their secrets and trust each other so much? What the fuck was their deal?! 

Why did he confide in him at the Sports Festival? 

Why did he use his power on him but not Bakugou? 

Did Bakugou not deserve it in his eyes? 

Was Bakugou not worthy? 

They were fucking looking down on him, weren't they? 

Why couldn't Bakugou... no he didn't want to be friends with that idiot...

"Fuck I want more."

Bakugou shook off his thoughts. He had already come to terms. He had already made up his mind. 

His thoughts were stupid. They were useless. 

They were feelings that didn't mean anything. 

People were meant to be pebbles along the road. People were meant to see him as the best. People were meant to see him as number 1. People were not meant to be with Bakugou. 

He had to be number 1. 

That wasn't up for discussion. 

No one was going to get in his damn way. 

People weren't going to look down on him. 

People were allowed to like him like that (as annoying as it is) but he could never look at anyone like that . 

Then it was basically the same as losing. 

If he admits his feelings then he loses. 

Because they wouldn't spare him a glance. 

People were never going to look at him the way that bastard looks at that idiot.

The timer went off. 

He peeked at the buns and turned off the heat. "Ha perfect. Like always," he complimented as he let them air out for a few seconds, "these fuckers are easy anyway." 

He said as he grabbed one, blew it, and plopped it into his mouth. 

He smiled that even now it still surprised him how amazing he was. 

Bakugou grabbed the steamer tray and headed out to the table.

He wiped any remnant of the intensity he had felt just a few minutes ago and planned to shove his delicious ass food down Deku's throat in retaliation. 

He shut the lights off for the kitchen and stepped into the naturally lit dining room, "Oi are you done Icyhot? We still have morning class to go to so get your shit together and stop talking to that shitty ne..." 

Bakugou almost dropped his plate as he processed the scene.

Icyhot had his right hand placed softly on Deku's cheek. 

Deku was staring into those shitty eyes of his. 

Those fucking piercing, scary, fucking... ugly eyes of his. 

Icyhot said something. 

It was probably in the usual serious matter-of-fact voice that called his name. 

He said something that seemed to be important; important enough to make that dumbass finally stop moving for just one moment. 

Bakugou was frozen too. 

What was he supposed to do in this fucking situation?! 

He gripped the tray as he prepared to just casually interrupt their staredown session by slamming down the nikuman but then it hit him.

Todoroki's eyes. 

His gaze was always so frigid. 

Or fiery. 

Or painfully fine; like nothing interested him. 

But now. 

They were so soft, so kind. They looked at Deku like no other. 

His eyes that were so intimidating and powerful were now overwhelmingly tender and intimate.

The intensity surged through Bakugou's body again and staggering anger just pulsed through him. 

He caught sight of the way he looked at him and Bakugou could see the look that he could never get. 

He watched as Icyhot's eyes overflowed with something Bakugou had never seen before. 

A look he had never seen because it was never meant for him.

Was this it? Was this really happening in front of Bakugou's eyes? 

Icyhot was so close to Deku's face. 

They were about to... Fuck he knew that it was hopeless but it didn't need to be hopeless this soon.

"WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!"

The tray dropped with a loud clank against the table. 

Bakugou had his hands slammed onto the table as he stared at the two with searing disbelief. 

He had lunged from the kitchen in a dramatic swift motion. 

They better pay some fucking attention to him. 

Red met green and caused a forest fire. 

Deku turned his flushed face towards an angry Bakugou. 

He looked like he was just caught in the act. 

Well just look at what they are fucking doing. 

They were being fucking faggots. 

It was already fucking disgusting when guys joked around with that shit but this was... This was fucking disgusting. 

This wasn't some repulsive flirting, this was real. 

They were eye-fucking like homos and they were absolutely shameless.

Icyhot had to pry his ugly mismatched eyes off that stupid nerd just to look in Bakugou's fucking direction and that just made his fingers curl into his palms. 

It was absolutely disgusting the way he looked at him, to someone who didn't even fucking deserve it for that matter. 

Icyhot stared at Deku like he was the most amazing thing in the world. 

Icyhot stared at Deku like he was the world.

Fucking vomit.

Bakugou felt so weird. 

He felt like killing something. 

Maybe someone. 

He didn't really know. 

He gritted his teeth and felt the pit begin to dig in his stomach. 

He wasn't letting his glare falter but something just wasn't right.

 It felt like he was destructing from the inside. 

That the things he was saying were hurting him more than what was actually going on. 

His insides felt so conflicted. 

He would think one thing then he would be overcome with another. 

He felt like he was going fucking mad because this wasn't like him. He always knew what he wanted. He always knew what he should do. 

But this. 

Fucking complicated. 

He felt so fucking complicated.

This feeling. 

He knew what it was. He always knew in a way. 

He just was never going to fucking admit it. 

No there was nothing to admit. The only thing he felt was anger and disgust towards the two; nothing more, nothing less. 

His eyes had turned distant once again. 

Because apparently, Bakugou meant nothing to him. 

Because apparently, Bakugou wouldn't spark anything in him.

Because apparently, the shit nerd deserved it but not Bakugou. 

Because Icyhot couldn't give two shits about him.

...

He was jealous. 

Call him fucking jealous. 

Go ahead. 

Fucking do it. 

I dare you.

Who wouldn't be when the only person who doesn't even acknowledge your existence doesn't look your way but instead looks at the trash behind you.

Bakugou didn't fucking like that stupid Half and Half bastard.

And that was the fucking problem.

Chapter Text

No... no... no... no

THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING

Deku moved his head quickly towards Kacchan. 

They met eyes but it wasn't what Deku had expected. 

Kacchan's eyes were filled with anger... but wet anger... 

You know the kind of anger that makes you tear up and clench your fists till you bleed. 

The embarrassing anger that Kacchan didn’t allow himself to have. 

At least there hasn’t been much that could trigger it. 

The kind of anger that Deku had only seen twice since they were kids. 

It was always after Deku and Kacchan had fought: at the start of the year when Deku had won and he had let it slip that his power was borrowed and then a few weeks ago when they had their second battle and they became true rivals. 

But this... it was different.

He looked... he didn't even look mad. 

He just... 

Deku had known him for so long but he didn't know anything about him; he couldn't even scratch the surface of Kacchan. 

He didn't look mad at... he wasn't mad at Deku. 

He was sad... he looked distraught. 

What was wrong? 

What was...

"Oh, I was just telling Midoriya that I-"

Deku jumped to cover his mouth. 

He grabbed hold of Todoroki's mouth like it was life itself. 

You don't say those kinds of things casually to people! 

Especially to Kacchan. 

Especially if it’s a ‘like’ like... that. 

Todoroki and Kacchan alike looked at him with the most confused expression. 

Everyone involved was honestly very confused for such a range of reasons.

Todoroki stared at Deku and his confusion softened into... he wrapped his long fingers around Deku's wrist and Deku could feel an affectionate smile grow from under his scarred fingers. 

Deku quickly pulled away. 

What was that?! What is this?! This can't be real!?

"What is it you need, Bakugou?"

Deku jerked his head towards Todoroki again. 

Todoroki didn't seem fazed. He didn't seem embarrassed. 

He seemed to think this was normal. 

HOW WAS THIS NORMAL?! 

Todoroki's expression shifted back to the calm and aloof way he usually looked. 

It had changed before... but why... his face was filled with emotion.

It was honest. It was real. It was raw. 

It... it was love.

"I NEED YOU..."

Kacchan paused. 

Why did he pause? 

He never paused. 

He looked like he was thinking. He looked like he wanted to say something... 

This was the first time Deku had ever seen Kacchan holding back. 

The first time that Kacchan wanted something and didn't grab it with both hands and explosions. 

His fists were shaking. He never put his hands in fists. 

He always went to curled fingers and strained muscles, never clenched fists and shaking.

"you... fucking..." 

Kacchan's voice was low. 

It wasn't a grumble. It sounded like a whisper. 

It felt painful.

Deku felt the urge. 

The urge to help. The urge to hold. 

The urge to run to him. 

He wanted to open his fists carefully and smooth out his hand until he calmed down. 

He wanted to tell Todoroki to stop. 

He wanted this all to stop. 

He didn’t know what was going on but all he did know was, this would all end in disaster.

And Deku would be stuck in the middle of the inferno.

Kacchan opened his mouth too many times to count and slowly he seemed to return to his usual state. 

Irritated for sure but that wasn't really something that was out of the ordinary. 

Deku didn't even look towards Todoroki and what was going on with him... he was more worried about what Kacchan was going to say and do. 

He was more scared of what Kacchan thought of him now.

"YOU FUCKING HALF AND HALF BASTARD WE NEED TO GET TO CLASS SO STOP CANOODLING WITH SHITTY DEKU"

Oh, so he thinks of me like usual...

His hands were unclenched and his face was back to being dry angry instead of some other foreign emotion. 

Why had he become so upset? Deku hadn't done anything, right? 

Was it really just about class?

It couldn't have been. 

He would never look so vulnerable and so... sad if that was the case. 

Deku was quickly connecting dots in his head, trying to find what Kacchan was truly upset about. 

Surely he wasn't upset about Todoroki and Deku's closeness. 

Surely. 

Deku and Kacchan were finally getting close again! 

Why must it be ruined once again! Why were they fighting yet again!?!

But what were they fighting over...

Deku slowly turned to meet Todoroki's eyes. 

Todoroki had his eyes locked on Bakugou stuffing his mouth with food.

It couldn't be...

"Oi what are you looking at?!" 

Kacchan finally saw Todoroki's stares. 

"You." 

What?! 

Kacchan almost choked on his food. 

He quickly rose from his chair and set off a small explosion that echoed through the halls, "Why... why do you feel the need to do that?! Take the damn food. I know that that's what you want." 

Todoroki quickly swiped a nikuman. 

Kacchan... chuckled? 

That's weird. 

Deku watched as he took off his apron and revealed his uniform underneath. He slipped on his blazer and slung his bag over his left shoulder.

Kacchan gave Deku a look and started to walk out.

Deku heard murmurs of students waking up. 

His face flushed as he plopped back on his chair, not even realizing he was still standing. 

Hagakure's complaints of it being too early for explosions was followed by Iida and Yaoyorozu saying that it was exactly the right time to wake up. 

Deku felt his heart sinking and his lungs filling with lead. 

Too much thinking and too much confusion and too much... well everything! 

He wasn't used to this much emotional stress in the morning. He hadn't even finished processing!

He twiddled his fingers to relieve the pressure and bit the insides of his cheeks to calm the anxiety. 

He could practically hear Yaoyorozu waking up Jirou. 

Yaoyorozu had offered to wake up the girls every day since she was at the top floor and could just go down each floor and wake up the girls as she went. 

Of course, it was more of an excuse to see the girls and she kind of went against what she said as she usually made a beeline to the third floor; She would wake up Hagakure and then she in turn would excitedly wake up everyone. 

Then Yaoyorozu would wake up Jirou more personally because Jirou definitely was not a morning person. 

Deku could hear Hagakure waking the other girls and Iida bonding up the steps to awaken his classmates for punctuality. 

(Iida did this just because he was Iida)

He was on the third floor. 

Why would he just want to run up a bunch of steps for people who never asked him to wake them up? 

Instead of regretting it, Deku was glad he had endorsed Iida as class president. 

He definitely cared about this class.

The day can only go up from here Deku, he mumbled to himself.

He took a peek at Todoroki. 

He didn't seem bothered and looked quite relaxed. 

Just remembering the events that occurred made him overcome with anxiety. 

That was weird. 

Kacchan was cooking for Todoroki. Todoroki called Kacchan, Katsuki. Kacchan saw them. 

What were they doing exactly, Deku didn't even know. 

Todoroki put his hand on his cheek. Deku saw something in his eyes. Deku already knew what it was. Deku had seen it too many times before. Primarily in the mirror. Shit, he was rambling again but...

Todoroki got up quickly and took a bun in his mouth as he put on his blazer and adjusted his tie. 

Deku quickly looked him up and down. 

He stood tall and his messy hair curled on the ends. 

He was probably the most unique and interesting person that Deku had ever seen. 

And Aishido Mina was in their class.

Deku caught his eyes. His blue and grey eyes gazed softly down at him. His scar was so prominent on his face. His hair was so distinct with its split down the middle. And the messy yet neat way it fit his head. 

The first thing that he saw was the eyes. 

His eyes could see your soul and know exactly how to kill it. And it was honestly terrifying and amazing at the same time. 

This man liked him... Todoroki Shouto...

"I'll be back in an hour for regular classes. We will talk later."

Todoroki kissed the top of Deku's head and ran after Kacchan's silhouette that was making its way to the Provisional License Support Classes. 

Deku sat there. 

Their soul was being sucked out of their body. His lifeforce was completely gone. 

It was stolen by two people who were just as confused as him.

Kiss?  

Deku was falling into the void of confusion. 

And a good chunk of Class 1A got to witness it.

Fuck.