"Kacchan! Wait up! Kacchan!" Deku's calls dissolved into a fit of coughing and he had to stop to lean against a nearby building to keep himself upright
"Geeze! You're hacking up already? You're such a wuss, Deku!" Kacchan told him as he doubled back to him. He didn't reach out in comfort but simply watched in silence as the coughing slowly petered out. When Deku was about done, wiping the spit from the corner of his mouth, Kacchan grabbed him by the wrist and yanked him along none to gently.
"I'm sorry." Deku said weakly as he was dragged along, his eyes on his stumbling feet
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just keep up! Ma will kill me if I lose you in the crowd again." Kacchan grumbled
Deku really shouldn't even be out today to begin with. He was sick. But, then again, he was always sick. And he couldn't very well spend his whole life stuck in bed could he? So, he swallowed down the dropping of his eyes, the burn of his throat, and the difficulty breathing as the pair made their way into town.
Deku loved the Center Plaza of his little village, it was always bursting with life. Townspeople running errands went this way and that, bards practiced their instruments and treated everyone to some free entertainment, shop owners called out their doors, trying to drum up business. At the heart of all of it was a statue of All Might. Ten feet tall with bulging muscles and a beaming smile, he stood proudly for all to see and adore. They were far from the only village in Yuuei with an All Might Statue, but theirs was special. This was the very same village he had grown up in as a child, as any townsfolk would be happy to tell you! Today, there was a man that Deku recognized as the Town Crier perched atop a ladder, placing a crown of flowers atop his stone head.
"Oi! Why are you doing that? " Kacchan yelled up at him, clearly catching the poor man off guard and almost making him fall from his perch. Deku grabbed at the base of the ladder, to help keep it steady. The man offered him a nod of thanks.
"Haven't you heard? All Might's returning!" he called down to them
"Why's he doing that?" Kacchan asked
"Does a man need a reason to return to his childhood home?" Deku responded with a quirked eyebrow, his silver tongue already taking shape
"There's gotta be a million better things for him to do than come back to this backwater nowhere!" Kacchan argued back
"Well, in any case, he'll be here in about three months time." The Town Crier said as he climbed off the ladder "Thank you, young man." He added, giving Deku's hair a little ruffle in appreciation as he walked off
"Wow!" Deku gasped, his green eyes twinkling "He's going to be right here! Maybe we'll get to meet him! I'm so excited!"
He turned to find Kacchan staring up at the statue's face with wide eyes and his mouth open. Deku found himself smiling at the sight, Kacchan was always so wild and imposing, so strong and bold and confident it was easy to forget he was just as much a child as he was. Heck, he wasn't even six months older than him! He grabbed at his sleeve and yanked, jostling him.
"This is your chance!" He beamed at him "You'll get to show All Might how strong you are and he'll choose you as his successor!"
Kacchan looked at him wide-eyed for a moment, stunned, before his face fell back to it's usual confident grin "Idiot. That would've happened regardless."
"Hey, will you take me to the capitol with you?" Deku asked as they started off on their errands again
Kacchan smiled, amused "Sure. Why not?"
The day of the coronation had finally arrived! But, the ceremony itself wouldn't be held until noon. Something about the sun bearing witness… Well, in any case, the morning was occupied by a festival hosted by the common people in the capitol city in honor of the new All Might. Then came the coronation, the other four heirs would present gifts, and then the common people would return to the festival while nobility would retire to the castle for a ball that would continue until midnight.
Kirishima was a little worried about how his gift would go over with the new Heir. It would be controversial at best, but that was what he got for heeding the advice of such a controversial man.
No, that wasn't right. Bakugo was controversial in Riot but in Yuuei, his own homeland, he seemed to be outright despised. The entire castle staff watched him with barely contained anger in their eyes. And he returned them with his usual air of haughty, hot-blooded pride. Even now, as they strolled the streets of the capitol, strings of flowers and brightly colored streamers decorating the street and the scent of delicious food mixing with the flowers in a divine aroma, Bakugo looked as miserable as Kirishima had ever seen him.
He wanted to comfort him. He wanted to see him smile. He wanted to hold his hand in his and refuse to let go. He wanted to drag him out to the crowds of dancing couples and let the music wash over them until all troubles were forgotten. He wanted—
He wanted so many things.
But he knew why Bakugo was so angry. And he knew what he wanted could not be. And yet, somehow or another, he found himself with his arm linked with Bakugo's beefy one nevertheless as they shoved meat pies in their mouths.
"Man, I'm already feeling a little full. Maybe I should hold back until the party." Sero mentioned
"If you can't handle this much, you'll be a goner at the party." Bakugo snorted "We don't have much in excess. So what we do have, we cram down your throat. Quite literally."
"That's… graphic." Ashido commented
We Kirishima thought sadly. Even after all this time, it was 'we; the Yuueins' and not 'we; the Riotans'. Two years in Riot had done nothing to slacked Bakugo's iron spine and furious pride in his country. No matter how they shunned him, or however much Riot opened their arms to him, he was as Yuuein as the day he'd left. It made Kirishima envious.
"You must be popular at these parties, Katsuki." Kirishima tried "With your appetite and all."
Bakugo smirked, the closest he'd come to a smile the whole day "Yeah, I guess so. One time, I put away an entire turducken just because… B-Because… some brat told me I couldn't." his face fell and became even sourer than before, making Kirishima's heart sink
"What's a turducken?" Kaminari whispered, thinking Kirishima and Bakugo couldn't hear him
"A chicken stuffed inside a duck stuffed inside a turkey." Sero whispered back
"That's disgusting." Kaminari replied
"Idiot!" Bakugo roared at them "It was delicious and I don't regret a single bite!" He stormed off ahead but Kirishima saw a beginnings of a genuine smile on his face.
"Hey!" He caught up with the grumpy blond and linked their arms together again instinctively "What's so funny? Huh?"
Bakugo didn't look at him when he replied, keeping his eyes firmly on the sky, but that didn't stop the smile spreading across his face. His twin broadswords, which he carried on his back at all times, twinkled in the sunlight. "You should've seen the look on his stupid face when I won. The moron. Gaping like a fish. And then," Bakugo went as far as to break out into laughter at the memory "And then he goes and asks if I wanted another glass of water! Like that was all he could think to do! Ha Ha! What a loser!"
Kirishima grinned too, happy to at last see the man in high spirits "They should know better than to challenge you."
"Damn right they should."
They continued on throughout the city. Bakugo's mood noticeably lifted and Kirishima's following suit. They talked little, Kirishima afraid a reminder of the day's events would crush Bakugo's mood once again. But Sero and Ashido and Kaminari could make conversation out of thin air, so there was little need.
"Man, we stick out like sore thumbs in Riotan clothing." Sero groaned
"That's a good thing! Everyone should know what country we represent!" Mina argued
"What do you think, Katsuki? Do you think we should've dressed in the local fashion?" Kirishima asked
Bakugo snorted, himself dressed like a Riotan. Even today, of all days "Hell no. It's summer. It's fucking hot. All these prudes might act scandalized by a little skin, but they're sweating their tits off under all those layers. That's one thing I don't miss."
A child ran up to them and bowed to Bakugo, who quirked an eyebrow "What do you want?"
"I was sent to remind you the coronation starts soon, so you should make your way to the city center, Your Highness."
A chill settled over the group despite the raging summer heat.
"I'M NOT THE PRINCE YOU MORON!"
The child stumbled back in shock, almost falling over themselves. Their eyes frantically scanning to group for whoever else the prince could be. Or perhaps just to look anywhere but at the fuming Bakugo. Poor kid looked like they were about piss themselves.
"It's alright." He said, placing a hand on Bakugo's chest without thinking about it "No harm, no foul. Run along now."
They did just that, relieved to be out of Bakugo's line of sight. Bakugo huffed angrily and stomped over to one of the carnival games, grumbling angrily. Kirishima found he could only sigh. It was all to understandable a misunderstanding. Bakugo, with his steel spine and intense red eyes, simply exuded self-confidence and authority. He had more presence in his pinky than Kirishima had in his whole body. It was by no chance he'd claimed such a coveted spot in Riots military despite his foreign birth. He was a natural-born leader, and it leaked from every pore.
"Kirishima-sama…" Ashido said tentatively.
But whatever she was going to say was cut off when Bakugo came back and slammed something down on Kirishima's head "Here!"
Kirishima, not knowing what else to do, lifted a hand and felt around. He was wearing some sort of wreath made of… flowers? He pulled it off and, yes, it was made of an odd dozen or so red flowers woven together to form the wreath. It was very beautiful.
"Katsuki…" But Bakugo refused to look at him, staring into the sky again in stubborn defiance
"They're usually worn by Yuuein nobility, but they're not uncommon at celebrations like this. You were talking about wearing something Yuuein, right?" He grumbled to the blue sky, his face looking as red as he flowers
Kirishima felt he was missing something in all this, but in any case he felt touched. "It's lovely. Thank you."
"Y-yeah… well… that fucking kid…" Bakugo grumbled
"As amusing as it is to see Bakugo blush," Sero interrupted, earning him an elbow from Kaminari "We really should get going. It'd be bad if we're late for something so important."
"Yeah, you're right." Kirishima agreed
"You go." Bakugo said "I'll watch with the common people."
"Ka-"
"It'd look weird, right? A Yuuein with all you Riotans?"
"But-" Ashido silenced him with a firm hand on his shoulder. Oh. Right. This was still a painful day for him.
"Will you at least come to the party afterwards?"
Bakugo snorted "I can't very well leave you with the three stooges all night."
Well, that, at least, was a comfort.
Kirishima kept the wreath on during the coronation. He really wished Bakugo had decided to come with them. If not for his company than just to explain everything to him. The coronation, as in all cultures, was full of symbolism and allusions to a history Kirishima didn't fully grasp. He probably understood maybe half of what was going on.
A lot of chatter sprang up from the Endeavorans when the new successor, a young man with Yuuein sun-kissed skin and curly green hair, was revealed. But they were likely to make a fuss no matter what, given their long standing rivalry, so Kirishima paid them little mind. The ceremony took place outside, as did all major Yuuein rituals, which both allowed the sun to bear witness to the event, but the common people as well. Unusual for such an elite event. He's not sure the idea would get far in Riot. Other than that, it was a rather boring affair.
The successor walked down a path of flower petals and leaves(heavily laid so no dirt could be seen) and through several archways before kneeling before the current All Might. Then are the vows.
"Do you vow to protect Yuuei?"
"I do."
"Do you vow to serve the people of Yuuei before yourself?"
"I do."
"Do you vow to revoke all titles and privileges previously bestowed upon you?"
"I do."
"Do you vow to uphold the laws of Yuuei in all things?"
"I do."
"Do you vow to show courage upon the battlefield in times of crisis?"
"I do."
"Do you vow to show compassion to the poor, the weary and downtrodden, in times of peace?"
"I do."
"Do you vow to never waver in face of adversity?"
"I do."
"Do you vow to be a friend to all who seek one?"
"I do."
Four attendants make their way down the aisle, each holding a corner of a white cloth which is then pinned to the shoulders of the man's green shirt. A cape? The man rises then, but does not turn to acknowledge the people, and keeps his eyes on All Might.
One of the attendants brings an ornate chalice and hands it to All Might. He takes a long sip before handing it to his successor who finishes it.
Finally, the crown itself is revealed and placed on his head. It's done in the design of roots and vines encircling his head and every gemstone, alternating between emeralds and diamonds. Kirishima thought to himself how much more comfortable it looked than the muzzle-like design of Riots crowns.
Only then does All Might raise his arms and proclaim "I present to you, my chosen successor, Midoriya Izuku! Prince of Yuuei! To serve as sovereign in my absence, and take my place when my time comes!"
The Yuuein's, both common and nobility, begin to chant Midoriya's name as he finally turns to face them. There were tears beginning to form in his green eyes but they stayed at bay for now. His face was split in a smile so wide and genuine it sends a jolt down Kirishima's spine. He was used to the carefully controlled expressions of other aristocrats and royals. It barely occurred to him that this was not just someone who'd stolen Bakugo's dream away, but someone who was living their own dream. The fantasy of every Yuuein child was this man's reality!
And then, he falls on his knees once again. Lowering himself to both his own people and the foreign royalty present! The room does not fill with horrified gasps, so Kirishima knows this is a normal part of the ceremony, but it still makes his heart skip a beat.
Midoriya stands again after a moment and his eyes finally begin to scan the crowd. His eyes fall on Riot's section of the audience and holds there for a moment. Kirishima's breath catches. He knows exactly what he is looking for there. Who he is looking for. And he does not find it. His eyes move on but Kirishima does not miss how little time passes between then and when the young man finally brings his gloved hand up to wipe his tears away.
Bakugo settles himself into the yellow tile of one building's roof. He has a good view from up here, up high. But he can't help but think how easy it would be to stage an assassination from up here. The open-air setting meant there would be no cover on the new Prince. Any dumbass with a crossbow could cripple his entire country from up here. He makes a mental note to yell at Deku about prioritizing his safety, but he knows he'll just get a smart response about tradition and the cultural significance behind why the coronation is held the way it is. That little shit was like a walking encyclopedia on all things Yuuei. Still, as long as he's here he might as well keep an eye out for trouble. He nibbles at another meat pie, and waits for the ceremony to start.
Unsurprisingly, there's a lot of commotion from the Endeavorans when Deku is revealed. The Yuuein nobility look pleased and unsurprised, while the common people are cheering so loud Bakugo can barely think over them. There is nothing as exciting to the Yuueins as a new All Might. The Urabiti and Ingeni both respond predictably enough. Though Bakuogo notes one woman in the Urabit crowd (a royal, if the throne she sits in is any indication) who looks especially satisfied.
Hmm, did she know something about Deku then? Does she have some horse in this race? But those are questions for later.
Deku passes through the eight flower-encroached archways, one for every previous All Might, crushing the flowers underfoot as he marches, eyes straight ahead. He swears his vows and then-
Bakugo's stomach churns at the sight of that simple white cloth. His cape. The Symbol of a Hero. Perhaps more important than the crown as a signifier of his royalty, it is earned only through the completion of truly selfless acts. And his-
Stop. Bakugo chastised himself, It's in the past. There's nothing more to be gained from it but pain.
He finds his eyes flitting to the Riotan section of the crowd. Kirishima is still wearing that stupid flower crown. Bakugo laughs just a little at the sight despite himself.
The ceremony continues, and Deku is officially proclaimed the Prince. The Yuueins are goddman near deafening.
Oh, shit, is this loser really going to cry at his own goddamn coronation? Bakugo's eyes flit down to the half-finished meat pie in his hand and he thinks how easy it would be to hit the damn fool with it. He's got a great shot and an even better arm. He could nail the idiot in the face and ruin the whole sham of a coronation.
Instead, he pushes it down the sloping yellow rooftop tiles, where it splatters into a thousand pieces on the street below, and heaves a sigh at the loss.
Unlike every other royal system, the All Might's way of doing things meant there was never any warning before the next one took the throne. The other countries would mark their calendars for Kirishima's coronation and watch him closely as he grew. Speculating about how he would rule one day, but also learning his likes and dislikes so they knew how best to kiss up to him. Buying for royalty was such an impossible task, after all.
Since nobody had ever met this man before, they were all at a distinctive disadvantage. Their gifts had to to double duty as to foster good relations between the kingdoms, but also to serve as a sort of introduction both to the princes and princesses presenting them, and the countries they represented. Typically this meant things like swords from Ingenium, jewelry from Endeavor, and dyes from Riot.
Kirishima was not bearing dyes today. He tried not to fidget with anticipation as Uraraka presented her gift— a lyre. He didn't pay much attention but it seemed to be going well until the very end when Midoriya was thanking her and started to call her "Uraraka-sama" only to be met by a pout from the princess. So, with a blush creeping on his face he corrects to "O-Ochako-chan." For which Uraraka rewards him with a smile as she takes her leave, her twin swords behind her.
Then it's Kirishima's turn and he finds he really wishes he had his own cool bodyguard at his side to make him look less weak. As it is, he approaches the platform where Midoriya stands and takes a knee before him, if only for a second, while Ashido, Kaminari, and Sero unveil his gift. There's a lot of murmuring as soon as it's revealed. Kirishima knew that was coming, he was fine, it was fine, the only person who's opinion mattered right now was…
Midoriya's eyes are wide, and locked on his gift. He looks like he's had the breath knocked out of him.
"A lemon tree?" He asks cautiously, almost a whisper, like he can't believe what's in front of him
"It was grown from a sapling of the only such tree in my palace gardens and carefully maintained throughout our long journey here." Kirishima explained. It was only a fraction of the whole story behind the little tree, but he wasn't sure if mentioning Bakugo was a smart move. Given his, ah, reputation. Ashido had quickly found out all about the bad blood between him and the palace staff, between him and various nobility(notably the Minetas), and between him and this Midoriya Izuku. There were no shortage of stories describing mean things he'd done to him over the years. Some were surely exaggerations, but others were concerningly within his character.
"I thought you might like to plant it in your own gardens, so we might match."
Also, please don't take it the wrong way. He quietly prayed.
Gifts at these events were often lauded with multiple meanings and references. Something like this, with such a famously unpleasant fruit, was too easily misconstrued. It could easily come off as him telling the new prince to 'suck lemons' as it were.
His heart practically stopped beating when he heard Midoriya's laugh. It was a gentle, light melody that was accompanied by a soft smile on his lips and a playful twinkle in his green eyes. "I sense Kacchan had some say in this matter. Yes?"
K-Kacchan?!
As in, Katsuki? His Katsuki? He referred to such an aggressive, unapproachable man in such an affectionate way? But the rumors had said-
"Eijiro-San?" Midoriya spoke again, snapping him from his thoughts "I can't help but think that… Well, forgive me for being assumptive. But Kacchan didn't tell you the story behind this tree, did he?"
What?
Kirishima's face must've showed his surprise. Midoriya took pity on him and started the story before Kirishima could open his mouth and let the flood of "Uh"'s and "But"'s tumble out.
"There was a lemon tree growing outside of the Bakugo's house when we were children. Aunt Mitsuki used the fruit to make her lemon bars. As boys, Kacchan and I would challenge each other to eat the fruit raw. It was a rather stupid test of endurance, but one we looked back on with fondness as the years passed." Midoriya hoped off the platform at this point and plucked a small but ripe lemon off the trees thin branches, peeling it with practiced ease "So I'd be delighted to have one in my gardens. This gift makes my heart sing, Eijiro-San. Thank you, truly."
He finished by popping a lemon segment into his mouth and smiling around it like it were candy. A move that sent a shiver down Kirishima's spine and a shockwave through the onlooking crowds.
Kirishima's head was spinning. There was so much he wanted to ask but this clearly was not the time or the place. Instead he simply whispered, quiet enough only Midoriya could hear it "I'll be sure to find you at the party later."
"Please do." He whispered back "There's much I want to discuss with you."
With that, Kirishima took his leave. The elder Iida brother presented a shield made of precious metals and adorned with gemstones and sure to collect dust over a mantle for the rest of time. Todoroki gave a beautiful horse that took an immediate liking to Midoriya. But Kirishima really wasn't paying attention. His head was still spinning as he watched this curious man with curly hair and twinkling green eyes who spoke of his love with such a soft smile.
