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Kirishima wasn’t here.
Tch.
How irritating.
Bakugo frowned when he saw the spiky-haired red head absent from his usual spot as he slipped on his shoes in the shoe locker. “Hey, Soy-Sauce face,” he called over to Sero. “Where the hell is Shitty Hair?”
“You didn’t hear?” Sero flashed a grin. “Kirishima got called off to the side by a girl a few minutes earlier! I saw them walking away together.”
“Our little Eijirou has grown so manly that even the chicks can’t ignore it,” Kaminari sighed while lacing his shoes. “When am I gonna get that chance?”
What?
A girl’s… confessing to him?
Something curled in his gut as he stood up and gripped the strap of his bag. “Then where the hell is he?”
“Beats me,” Sero sighed.
“Oh, oh!” Mina waved her hand. “I think I know! There’s a popular spot to confess at UA. It’s like, on the west side of the building, underneath some cherry blossom trees! Come to think of it, aren’t they in full bloom right now? How romantic!”
“Man, I wish I had a girl to like me like that,” The yellow-haired teen pouted. “Will it ever be my turn? Ouch!” He whipped around to see Jirou with her earphone jack raised in a poised position, ready to strike again.
“Don’t bother with romantic relationships at a time like this,” she warned, rolling her eyes. “We’re all way too busy to date, anyway. Focus on becoming a hero instead.”
Bakugo huffed and stormed away from the lockers. Tch. She’s right.
Who needs romance at a time like this?
***
As Bakugo walked towards the dorms, he kept glancing at his right.
The west.
Was Kirishima right there, right now? Getting confessed to?
Would he accept her declaration of her admiration? Would they start to date?
Kirishima never really seemed too interested in girls. Or romance, in general. He was too chivalrous and manly and focused on becoming the sturdiest hero out there to even think about dating.
…Right?
That same irritation coiled inside Bakugo again.
What would happen if that idiot accepted her feelings?
Ha. As if anyone could ever replace me–
He froze in his path, heavy steps coming to an abrupt halt. He looked up to see the cherry blossom petals slowly falling from the breeze that swept through the area, rustling his spiky blonde hair.
What?
What was I even thinking about?
Bakugo shook his head. A mere extra couldn’t measure up to his best friend like that.
He started to walk again, though his footfalls became more unsure.
That’s all I’m worried about.
That he’ll prioritize whoever he dates over me–
Shit. That’s even worse.
I just don’t want to be second to anyone! Even in their mind.
Especially him.
What the hell am I even thinking? I’m his best fucking friend. Of course I’m always #1 in his mind.
It seemed as if, after Kamino, the two had gotten even closer. Bakugo could still feel the sensation of launching himself in the air just to clasp Kirishima’s outstretched hand. He remembered, despite the fear that coursed through his veins, the involuntary grin that stretched across his face as he locked hands with him.
Kirishima always seemed to understand him. They were incredibly compatible– and not just as friends. In combat training, Kirishima was always his reliable partner. He’d Harden himself and knock an opponent down before Bakugo could blast a large explosion at the two without worrying about his friend (?) getting injured as well.
There was absolutely no use in wasting all these damn thoughts on some extra who thought she actually had a shot at taking priority in Kirishima’s heart. (Heart? Why did he think heart? Why not mind? Both were absolutely fine. It wasn’t any matter. He’d be #1 in everything, especially Kirishima’s–)
Bakugo stopped in his tracks to notice the direction he was going in. His traitorous feet had veered him off course and towards the west side of the school.
Shit. That was stupid. I need to go back–
But before he could turn around to correct his course, his feet failed him as he heard a girl’s voice, maybe about 20 feet away. Immediately, he ducked behind a tree.
“So? Will you… accept my feelings and start seeing me?”
In an almost disgustingly cinematic way, a rather strong breeze swept through the space, shaking the loose, pink petals out of their spots to send them fluttering into air. The golden sunlight setting beneath the mountains illuminated the area in soft warm light.
Why… am I waiting for his answer?
The bark was rough beneath his hands. It felt like Kirishima’s Hardened skin whenever he trained. (Why did he know that, anyway? Why would he even remember the feeling?)
He took a peek at the girl. Light-colored hair. Fair skin. Big eyes. Conventionally pretty, but pretty average in general. Probably in General Studies. He had never seen her before. Even if he did, he wouldn’t have bothered to remember her, anyway. Only important people were worth the space in his memory.
“You can text me!” she continued. “If you need time to think it over! Here’s my number…” her voice trailed off.
“Sorry,” a familiar voice apologized. The sound of it made a spike of dopamine rush through Bakugo’s head and a hand reached up to clench the strap. “But I’m not interested in dating right now.”
He rejected her, Bakugo’s heart sang. He rejected her, he rejected her.
Shaddup, he thought furiously to himself, stamping down the giddiness rising up.
“O-oh!” the girl paused before continuing. “You won’t… even consider it? We can start off as friends! I’m sure I can convince you that we can work it out! You and I are totally compatible!”
Compatible? Irritation stabbed at Bakugo’s head. He and I are the compatible ones, you damn extra. You’re delusional. You don’t even know him.
“Like I said,” Kirishima sighed. Bakugo could sense that he ran a hair through his spiky hair. “Plus, I’m way too busy right now. Hero course students don’t have a ton of free time on their hands, you know.”
“But–!”
“Listen, I’m sure you can find a great guy for you out there,” he assured. “But I’m not the one.”
Bakugo listened hungrily for his next words, but his expectation was quickly soured by the girl’s voice.
“...People kept saying we’d look cute together,” she mumbled. “Not even a chance?”
Fat. Chance.
Bakugo heard Kirishima sigh. “I’m not into dating right now. I don’t know how else to put it. I appreciate the courage it took to confess, but… it’s not for me.”
Bakugo half-expected himself to feel proud. Of Kirishima rejecting the girl like that (in that stupidly chivalrous way).
But why do I feel… disappointed?
He started to walk back to the dorms, this time taking the correct path, hands stuffed in his pants, though his gait was just barely slower than before. It wasn’t long before he could feel a pair of familiar footsteps running up behind him and a warm hand clasping on his shoulder.
“Bakubro!” A warm shark-toothed grin shined at him. “Why’re you walking alone, man? Where’re the others?”
“They went on ahead,” Bakugo replied, ignoring the weird feeling in his stomach again, except this time, this sensation was warm and fluttering rather than cold and slithering. I always feel so damn happy when I see him. Is he Pavlov-ing me?
“Ah, did you wait for me?” Kirishima questioned. Bakugo turned around to see his red eyes twinkling at him.
“Tch!” Bakugo suddenly bristled at the exposure. “You wish!” He whirled around again as his ears began to burn, marching away. “You’re so damn slow, you know?”
“Aww, don’t be like that!” Kirishima caught up and swung an arm around Bakugo’s shoulders in a way only he was allowed to do. Whenever anyone tried to pull that shit with him, Bakugo would always duck away and scowl at them– but with Kirishima, he… honestly didn’t seem to mind.
Why is that? Bakugo thought grumpily. Especially right after that whole confession thing. Is he not gonna tell me anything about it? His best friend? Tch! Think he can just sweep it under the rug?
“Oh! By the way, can you help me with today’s English homework?” Kirishima clasped his hands together flatly in an apologetic gesture. “As loud as Present Mic is, I can’t understand a single word he’s saying in that class!”
“Ha! Seriously?” Bakugo tilted his head at Kirishima with a smirk that was part exasperation, part teasing. “Whatever. Come by after dinner.”
Kirishima’s face lit up in that stupid way, with an idiotic grin spreading across his face and his eyes widening and starting to shine. “Thanks, man!”
“Sure, you idiot.”
***
“Hey-eyyy, Kirishima!” Mina flung herself over the back of the couch to grin at the red head sitting on it. “I heard that some General Studies girl confessed to you!”
Mineta snapped his head around. “What?!” He wailed, hands on the sides of his head. “C’mon, seriously?! How come I never get any chicks confessing their love to me– Ack!” He was cut off by a sharp jab with Jirou’s earphone jack as she walked by.
“Oh, that?” Kirishima rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. “Word got out fast, huh?”
“It wasn’t too subtle, especially when she pulled you aside in front of half the class,” Sero pointed out. “So? What’d you say?”
Bakugo sat on the opposite end of the same couch as Kirishima, resting his cheek on his hand as his elbow sat on the armrest. His eyes bored holes into Kirishima’s head.
His roots need touching up, he thought absentmindedly as his scarlet eyes swept over the slight black roots of Kirishima’s hair.
“Gah… I tried to reject her in the manliest way possible,” Kirishima sighed. “I told her I was way too busy with the hero stuff, so I wasn’t interested in dating. Not that chivalrous, but it was manly– I hope.”
“Bah! Seriously?” Kaminari pouted as he crossed his arms. “You need to enjoy your high school life some more, seriously!”
“Literally!” Mina bounced her head in agreement. “But if you weren’t interested in the girl herself…”
“How pretty was she?” Mineta squinted his eyes at Kirishima. “How hot? How big?”
At this, Bakugo’s interest was piqued. His attention snapped back to the conversation as he listened intently (on the inside– on the outside he looked utterly bored) to Kirishima’s answer. What did he think of her?
“C’mon, I can’t say anything about her,” Kirishima coughed with a hand partially covering her mouth. “I already rejected her!”
“But was she pretty?” Sero pressed. “You can say someone’s attractive but not want to date them, y’know!”
At this, Kirishima’s eyes flicked over to Bakugo before quickly returning to the group. “Man… I guess… conventionally?” He answered in an attempt to avoid the question.
“But what about youuuuuu?” Mina whined. “We asked about your opinion, not society’s!”
“Hey, Bakugo, isn’t it time for us to go work on homework?” Kirishima stood up abruptly and looked at Bakugo, clearly attempting to escape the conversation. Bakugo blinked, shaken out of his thoughts but quickly regaining composure. He began to open his mouth to reply before one of Kirishima’s warm hands grabbed his forearm and nearly dragged him towards the elevators.
“Booooo! Running away from the conversation?” Mina called out as the two walked off. “You’re sooooo unmanly!”
“Doing homework is way manlier!” Kirishima called back. “C’mon, Bakubro!”
Bakugo wasn’t really paying attention to the whole back-and-forth taking place between Raccoon-Eyes and Kirishima. His focus was trained on the hand wrapped around his forearm as Kirishima’s warmth seeped into Bakugo’s body.
Bakugo had always been one to run hot– after all, his Quirk required him to generate his nitroglycerin sweat to function properly. As a result, his body adjusted to his Quirk to accommodate for its parameters. Because of this, while he enjoyed the sun and hot weather, he despised physical touch. The thought of other people’s body heat contributing to his own irritated him to his very core, to the point of disgust. He always dodged the hugs, the physical affection his parents offered to him, the pressing of bodies in any cramped situation. Even friendly grazes led him to duck the incoming hands or arms.
Yet, Kirishima’s touch never seemed to irritate Bakugo in that way. Initially, yes– the constant slinging of the arm over his shoulders or grabbing his arm was exasperating, and that stupid, bright smile never seemed to waver from Kirishima’s mouth, as well as that spiky hairstyle.
But over time, he got used to the smiles and touches and smell of gel. Then that accustomation shifted towards… welcome. Bakugo began to expect the flash of those sharp teeth, the warmth of his body.
It wasn’t until when he grabbed Kirishima’s outstretched hand at Kamino did he realize that he had missed his presence.
But of course, any person would miss their best friend.
Obviously.
Inside the elevator, Bakugo looked at the hand that was still glued to his arm. Kirishima, noticing his focused stare, let his eyes wander to where the blonde’s attention was directed to and quickly let go of his arm.
“Ack! Sorry, Bakugo,” he scratched the back of his head as he apologized. “I didn’t even notice I was still holding your arm.”
As Kirishima’s warmth lingered on his skin, Bakugo let out a huff and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Whatever,” he muttered. “It’s not like you never not get all touchy with me.”
Kirishima looked at Bakugo and smiled nervously. “Ah, well it’s a habit, right? I tend to be like that with people I’m close with.”
“Right, and since I’m your best friend, I get the privilege of being the person you touch the most,” the blonde snorted. Kirishima paused and looked at Bakugo before looking away.
“Yeah! Privilege…”
The two awkwardly made their way to Bakugo’s room, where Kirishima quickly grabbed his stuff and flopped down on the floor in front of the low table that Bakugo had set up. He opened his bag to fish out his English notebook and folder.
“So what parts do you not get?” Bakugo asked from his seat on the edge of his bed, resting an ankle over his opposite knee. He looked down at Kirishima as he sat cross-legged on the ground.
“These… commas, or whatever. I’m having trouble with the whole grammar rules and stuff,” Kirishima groaned. “There’s so many! I can’t memorize them all!”
“Idiot,” Bakugo said, though it held more affection than bite. “Have you even cracked open the textbook?”
“...” Kirishima looked at his paper and Bakugo, smiling awkwardly. “I was… kinda hoping that you’d explain for me, anyway. You’re a way better teacher than Mic.”
Pleased at this, Bakugo scooched down from the bed and sat down next to Kirishima, their knees almost brushing together. As he began to explain the grammar concepts steadily, Bakugo could feel the red head’s attention wandering. The blonde had just finished up a sentence about independent clauses when he looked up to meet Kirishima’s crimson eyes looking not at the textbook, but at him.
“Oh! Yeah, totally,” Kirishima jerked out of his stupor and snapped his attention back to the study material on the desk. “Yeah, thanks, Bakubro!”
“Tch. Why even bother coming to class if you’re just gonna ask for lectures from me instead?” Bakugo leaned against the bed, raising an eyebrow at him. Was he looking at me?
Shark teeth flashed at him in an awkward grin. “Well… you know! Attendance! ‘Sides, it gives me an excuse to hang out with you.”
“You don’t need a reason to come over.” The words spilled out of Bakugo’s mouth before he could stop them. Kirishima looked at him, surprised, and laughed, the sound itching an itch Bakugo didn’t even know he had in his heart.
“Ha! That’s manly!” He offered him a thumbs up. “So you wouldn’t mind if I just barged into your room?”
Bakugo snorted. “You already pretty much do, anyway. Just knock. Don’t waste time asking for help with homework.”
Kirishima glanced at Bakugo before rubbing the back of his neck. “Like, any time?”
“Keep it reasonable, idiot,” Bakugo huffed. “But pretty much.”
There was a beat of silence. A wall of impenetrable awkwardness that he wished he could blow up with an explosion or an impulsive statement.
Maybe the latter would just make the stiff air even thicker.
Bakugo was seriously considering activating his Quirk just before Kirishima started to speak.
“Uh, y’know,” he mumbled. “That girl was pretty. In case you were wondering. Since Mina asked earlier.”
Well that was so much worse.
“So why didn’t you accept her?” Bakugo blurted out. Damn it, it turned out to be the impulsive statement, huh?
Kirishima glanced at him before humming in thought – the same note he always did whenever he was contemplating on saying what was on his mind or not (which was pretty uncommon, to be honest). “I, uh… okay, you can’t tell anybody else.”
“What?” Bakugo asked suspiciously.
“I have someone else I have feelings for,” he admitted. “And we’re really good friends right now, but I dunno if I wanna ruin it by confessing.”
Oh.
That was the worst.
So I can’t be number one in his mind, anyway.
There’s someone already in that spot.
Do I want to know?
Bakugo bit his lip to prevent his tongue from betraying his thoughts.
They’re good friends with each other. That probably means whoever it is, he trusts them a lot.
He’s my best friend.
Advice. What advice to give? Damn it, I don’t know! I’ve never had a crush before or dated anyone! Not that I ever wanted to, either – who wants an extra dragging them down?
“But don’t tell anyone!” Kirishima clasped his hands together in a pleading motion. “I don’t even think my crush likes me back, anyway. I’m just tryna stuff my feelings down until it dies out. I’m too busy to date, too, anyway. Like training, studying, and stuff.”
“So just train and study together, the hell?” Bakugo scoffed. “Or don’t. Who’d want someone who drags down their progress?”
He could feel Kirishima’s eyes on him. Was that too harsh? No, obviously not. Why the hell do I care about his love life? I don’t even care about my own.
“Uh. Right,” Kirishima looked down at his homework. “Do you have your own homework to do? You don’t have to help me. I think I’ve got it.”
“When you have two commas in the wrong place?” Bakugo snorted as he looked down at Kirishima’s work. He leaned over, pressing his shoulder against his. Pointing at the sheet over paper, Bakugo tapped the misplaced comma. “I’m fast with my English homework. You came to my room for help, right? I’ll help you to death!”
***
“I’m finally done!” Kirishima cheered, gathering the papers. “Thanks a ton!”
“Now the only points you’ll get taken off for is your handwriting,” Bakugo teased. He leaned against his bed, legs crossed. He watched Kirishima’s back flex as he stretched, hands reaching up to the ceiling as a series of audible pops came from his spine.
Kirishima groaned as he stretched, leaning back. “I’m so stiff,” he complained. “I can’t get this one crick out of my back!”
“Stretch harder, then,” Bakugo huffed. He stared at Kirishima arching his back without even realizing it.
Looks like his training’s been paying off, he thought to himself almost subconsciously. He remembered those days in the weight room where Kirishima would spend hours pouring his time and energy on his back. Even when Bakugo was finished with his workouts, the red head would still be pumping out reps on the machine like no tomorrow, sweat glistening on his bare back as the muscles underneath it would writhe and flex in a way that would draw anyone’s eye.
“Ack, it’s already 10!” Kirishima yelped, looking at his phone. “Sorry for staying so late! You sleep early, don’t you?”
“It’s whatever,” he said, just before biting through a yawn. Kirishima laughed.
“Nah, you’re totally tired,” he stood up and offered a hand to help Bakugo up. He took it, warmth seeping through Kirishima’s skin and into his own.
“Oh, and,” Kirishima squeezed Bakugo’s, an awkward smile stretching across his lips. “Uh, please don’t tell anyone about what I said earlier. The whole crush thing. If word gets out, I dunno if it’ll ever die out.”
“You think I’d tell anyone my friend’s secret?” Bakugo scoffed, insulted at the notion of being unable to do something as simple as keeping his lips shut. Kirishima glanced at him, almost uncertain, before laughing nervously.
“Well–! Not that I would expect it! I mean, you’re kinda loud and outspoken, which I like about you, but y’know! You can be kinda… impulsive, sometimes?”
“I think you’re the more impulsive one here,” Bakugo snorted. “But whatever. I guess. I’m not gonna tell anyone.”
Not that I know who it is, anyway.
Do I wanna know?
Part of him (desperately) wanted to know who it was that held that precious space in Kirishima’s mind (heart?) that should’ve been Bakugo.
But another wanted to preserve his obliviousness, hoping that he wouldn’t become obsessed with whoever was in his way.
There wasn’t too much of a contest between the two.
“Right. Well, uh,” Kirishima glanced at their hands, still somehow holding each other, before slowly letting go. “Good night! See ya tomorrow!”
“Hang on,” Bakugo instinctively reached out and grabbed Kirishima’s wrist. “You haven’t told me who it is.”
Damn it, damn it! I’m not impulsive, but for some reason I just can’t think before I act with him!
“Ah… haha!” Kirishima chuckled awkwardly. “No need! It’s not like you know them.”
“I’m your best friend,” he said suspiciously. “If I don’t know them, then isn’t that better?”
“Nah, nah!” he shook his head furiously. “I’m tryna let it die out, man! Seriously!”
But I want to know.
I need to know.
And I get what I want.
“Tell me,” Bakugo demanded, not realizing the irritation (desperation) crawling into his voice. “I just wanna know. I’m not gonna tell anyone, damn it! Don’t you trust me?”
“Well– it’s– it doesn’t matter! You don’t like me, anyway!”
It took a second for the words to process in Bakugo’s head.
And clearly it was the same for Kirishima, too.
“Wait!” Kirishima yelped, ripping his wrist out of Bakugo’s grasp. “Hang on, hang on, it’s not–”
“What,” Bakugo’s hand dropped to his side, staring at him. “Do you–?”
Kirishima covered his face with his hands. “Hang on, okay! It’s not what you think!”
Well that was a lie.
His face was slowly becoming the same color as his hair.
“So the person you like…” Bakugo started to say slowly. “Is–?”
Kirishima slapped his hand over Bakugo’s mouth. “Wait, wait, wait, before you reject me,” he stammered, eyes darting everywhere but Bakugo’s face. “I really, really, really didn’t want this to affect anything we have! I seriously love being your friend, dude, and I don’t wanna mess it up, so just forget about it ‘cuz I’m trying to make it die out–”
Oh.
That person in his mind is…
Me?
Bakugo stared at Kirishima’s red face as he rambled on, hand still planted on his mouth.
I’m that #1 in his mind.
And his heart.
I’m the reason he rejected that girl.
It’s me.
“A-anyways!” Kirishima continued. “Please, man, just forget about it! I’m almost over it, don’t worry, this won’t affect anything and I swear no one else knows, and it’s about to die out, so just–!”
Bakugo pushed away Kirishima’s hand from his mouth. “You don’t want me to be the number one person in your mind?”
“Wha– huh?” Kirishima looked flabbergasted. “What do you mean?”
Bakugo glared at him. “Whaddya mean you’re ‘almost over it’? You don’t want me to be #1 in your life?”
“Wait, hang on, what?” Kirishima stared at Bakugo incredulously. “I don’t know what you–”
Bakugo scowled at Kirishima. “What’s wrong with me being in the forefront of your mind at all times?” he demanded, taking a step closer. “You don’t like it? You don’t want it?”
“Wait, I’m so confused right now, bro–”
Bakugo grabbed the front of Kirishima’s tank. “Look at me.”
Kirishima’s crimson eyes met Bakugo’s, wide and uncertain, wavering at his intense gaze.
“You,” Bakugo jabbed a finger at him. “Like me.”
“I–!”
“And you don’t want that?”
Kirishima swallowed hard, his breathing ragged. “Well I– I just don’t wanna ruin the friendship we have, and I just wanna be close to you all the time, but I don’t think liking you will ever do anything and you might just hate it!”
“Why would I hate being #1 anywhere?” Bakugo demanded. “Especially with you!”
Kirishima’s breath seemed to catch in his throat. “So you… don’t mind my feelings?”
“What I’m saying is,” Bakugo said, letting go of Kirishima’s top. “I don’t mind being the person you think about all the time. That means I’m first in your mind, right?”
“You don’t mind that I like you…?” Kirishima asked cautiously, as if he were prodding a toe into a boundary. “Do you… like me back?”
Do I like him back?
That was thought that had never crossed his mind.
There was a thought that came to his mind. Earlier that day, under the cherry trees, where that girl had confessed to Kirishima and Bakugo was eavesdropping.
That irritation that had overcome him, that gnawing feeling that never belonged to any category he knew…
What was that?
Romance wasn’t like that.
It wasn’t sharp around the edges or loud like an explosion.
It was soft and delicate like the petals that fluttered in the wind.
It wasn’t harsh words or biting emotions, it was soft murmurs and comforting affection.
So what was it that he felt?
What was that irritation?
That wasn’t romance.
That wasn’t love.
Bakugo never struggled with words. The last time he failed to respond was when he couldn’t even properly articulate words when he was a toddler.
But here he was, mouth dry, thoughts blank, mouth parted open as if he were about to say something that his mind would regret but his heart would sing for.
“I was… pissed, earlier today,” he started to say. “When that girl came over to you and confessed. I thought you would accept it. Because she said you guys were ‘compatible.’”
Kirishima’s eyes suddenly locked onto Bakugo. “Wait, you were there?”
“Well– Just listen, okay?” he snapped before running a hand through his hair. Was talking always this hard? “I was irritated that you were there in the first place, listening to some extra yap about her feelings for you. I didn’t like that there was a chance of you thinking that you would actually think about dating her or that you thought that you would agree with her saying that you were compatible ‘cuz I’m the compatible one, damn it!”
There was a bit of silence. Not as awkward as before — but the tension charged in the air like Kaminari’s Quirk made it so much worse.
“So do you…?” Kirishima asked quietly, hands wringing the edge of his shirt.
Do I like him?
“You don’t have to tell me right now!” Kirishima blurted out. “I mean, you know, just whenever you’re good with it. Take your time.”
“It’s not like I want you to stop thinking of me all the time,” Bakugo said suddenly. “I’m not… as annoyed by it. If it were anyone else I’d be irritated as hell. But you’ve always been different. I don't know if this is romance, to be honest.”
Bakugo hated that word.
I don’t know.
It meant incompetence. If you didn’t know something or how to do it, learn it! That was how he always carried himself. Why would anyone else choose to do otherwise?
Anyone who didn’t know or do anything because they slacked off was a piece of trash.
But it wasn’t like he could study or train whatever this was.
He felt Kirishima’s hands clasp his, his long fingers wrapping around Bakugo’s own.
“I can’t tell you what your feelings are,” he said slowly. “And you don’t need to figure out all of them by tonight.
“But to be honest,” Kirishima started to ramble, squeezing Bakugo’s hands. “I’ve always admired you. You’re always so strong and know how to do stuff but you still take the time to teach me and the others how to do it if we suck at whatever you’re doing. You’re really manly for being able to do everything and still be able to hang out with people like me.”
“Hey,” Bakugo snapped. “Whaddya mean by ‘people like you’? You’re not some stupid extra. You’re Kirishima.”
A goofy smile stretched across his face, flashing his shark-like teeth at Bakugo. “You think I’m special, too?”
Bakugo opened his mouth before promptly closing it with an audible snap, turning his head away to the side. “So?”
“Sooo…” Kirishima tilted his head, his smile getting bigger. “Am I number one in your heart, too?”
“You always were,” Bakugo heard himself say. “Who the hell wouldn’t think that of you?”
He let out a delighted laugh, a sound that seemed to warm up Bakugo and burn away the uneasiness settling in his stomach. “If you don’t have an answer right now,” he squeezed Bakugo’s fingers again. “That’s okay. Take as much time as you want. I’ll be on your side no matter what, whether you accept or reject me.”
***
Bakugo walked Kirishima to his dorm room— which was right next to him, just a meter— but that meter felt so long. Each centimeter seemed to stretch with every thought racing through Bakugo’s head until it was just a blank storm.
“Good night,” Kirishima waved with a toothy grin. “See you tomorrow, man!”
“See you,” Bakugo grunted. He watched the door close and stared at it.
It started with the cherry blossoms on the west side of the school, burning away with irritation scorching his mind.
But now the flowers seemed to have begun blooming again.
Kirishima’s here.
He fought back the urge to place a hand on the door as if he could feel his presence through the wood.
It’s nice.