"My older brother will be there, but -" Momo is only mildly annoyed as she relays her plans to a group of classmates. "He promised to stay upstairs, so we shouldn't have to worry about him or anything."

"Perfect!" Mina grins hard, unable to contain her excitement.

"Aww, it'll be a great time no matter what, I'm sure of it! It's so cool of your parents to let you have a party at all."

"Remember it's a small get-together, Ochako," Tsuyu says, not a lick of irony in her tone.

Momo nods. "Right. Still haven't figured out how we will acquire - er -" She pops her head up to check if Aizawa is eavesdropping, wrapped in his sleeping bag at the front of the room. He doesn't move a muscle. She ducks back down.

"Don't worry about that." Kaminari walks up behind them, arms draping across their backs. "We've got it handled." He nods to Kirishima, who gives them finger guns as he joins them.

"You can count on us."

"Better not be on school grounds," Aizawa warns, not bothering to lift his head.

"You can trust us, Aizawa-sensei!" Izuku declares in the general direction of Aizawa's sleeping bag, wearing the same bright smile as always. Ugh.

Katsuki grits his teeth as he pushes past the group and into the hallway, followed close behind by his two best friends.

"Hey, Bakubro! Wait up!"

He slows to a halt, only having to wait a couple of seconds before they catch up to him and match his pace.

"You're coming to Momo's Friday, yeah?" Kirishima asks as they continue down the corridor. Katsuki gives a noncommittal shrug.

"Aww, c'mon!" Kaminari punches him in the arm. "We're gonna get Haruka to buy for us."

"And Momo's place is probably huge."

"Oh, can confirm - it's SUPER fancy!"

Before Katsuki can protest any further, Kirishima adds, "It's our last 'll be the last New Year's Party we'll have as a class!"

They pause at the end of the hallway, few words between them as Katsuki considers their reasoning. He definitely didn't plan on going, unable to see the point in hanging around the same twenty people he spent the majority of the last few years with. Besides, they'd already experienced so many "lasts,"as Kirishima was always quick to point them out so they could "savor them as a class."

Their last year at UA has been nothing if not grueling. The teachers have been working their class extra hard as they prepare to graduate, to become Heroes in the Real World (as if they hadn't had their provisional licenses since their first year). Katsuki was just going to go down to the ravine west of town and smash some old cement to let off steam, but…

"Fine."

"Hell yeah!" Kirishima shakes his fist, celebrating their success. "See you there!"

Katsuki scoffs, turning on his heel as he strides off in the other direction.

/

When Friday finally rolls around, Katsuki tries to think of a last-minute excuse as to why he can't go to the party, but he can't, so he puts on his favorite pair of track pants and a jacket and catches the late bus to the other side of town.

As he arrives at Momo's house, he can already hear the commotion from inside, the sound traveling down the small hill to the end of the drive. He's never been to this part of town before, and he immediately knows why - this is the rich people part of town.

When he reaches the front door, he brings his fist up to knock five times.

There's no answer.

"Fuck it." Katsuki spots the nearest window - on the ground floor, thankfully - and opens it enough so that he can climb through. Once he's inside, he spots a group of his classmates huddled in the kitchen.

"Yo, none of you nerds could answer the door?"

Jirou shrugs a shoulder at him. "Sorry, didn't hear you."

"Katsukiiii!" Kirishima leaps from behind the basement door, an arm around him in seconds. "I knew it was you! I'm so glad you came!"

"Sup, hedgehog, you good?"

"So good!" He bares his teeth in something like a smile. "It's so good to see you."

"All right." Katsuki steps back, peeling Kirishima off him. "I'm gonna need a drink if you're gonna be like this."

"Of course!" Kirishima leads him past the extras to the fridge, where Katsuki grabs two cans, slipping one into the pocket of his sweatpants. The other, he cracks and sips from it generously.

"Is everyone as far gone as you?"

"Oh, no!" Kirishima laughs, that dumb smile still on his face. "Come on!"

He leads Katsuki down to the furnished basement to see the majority of their class is hanging out. Some on a huge sectional couch, a few on the floor, some in nice wooden chairs. Can-lights softly line the walls, illuminating a dozen signed hero posters and ornately framed artwork that probably cost a ton even though it looks like shit, at least in Katsuki's opinion. Momo's family is bougie, all right.

"Look who finally made it!" Kaminari shouts from his place sprawled out on the floor, inciting greetings from the slightly intoxicated group. Katsuki grunts, holding up his can of beer to them before helping himself to the only chair left. Kirishima quickly finds Mina and flops down on the couch next to her.

Katsuki glances at the television mounted on the wall, some action movie that everyone's ignoring for a card game. To his left is Iida, who, much to his surprise, is drinking as well.

"Didn't think you were the type." Katsuki points to the beer in Iida's hand.

Iida looks confused for a moment, tilting his head to the side. When it dawns on him, he laughs uncomfortably. "Heh… yeah… I lost a bet."

"Yeeeup!" Sitting on the ground in front of them, Mina leans her head back to give a pointed look to Iida, which may have landed if she wasn't upside-down. "He's gotta finish it, too!"

"Yes, yes." He takes a sip then, cringing at the bitterness.

Katsuki's eyes slowly bounce around the room until he spots Izuku. He's in the corner talking with Shinsou, enthusiasm radiating off of him in waves, seemingly infecting the entire group, as it always seems to. How he's so at ease in social situations, Katsuki will never know.

Izuku's eyes flit in Katsuki's direction, and when he sees him, his whole face lights up.

"Kacchan!" He waves and Katsuki finds himself raising a hand to wave back. Izuku mouths a bunch of words he can't understand, and Katsuki scrunches his nose at him in return. Stupid Deku.

"You two seem to really be getting along lately," Iida says.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Katsuki snaps.

Iida sighs, slightly amused. "All it means is that, as your class representative, I'm very proud of how you've grown over the years."

Katsuki grinds his teeth, resisting the urge to sock him in the face. He looks away, trying to think of anything else. Emotions make him queasy. Standing, he finishes the last of his beer and cracks open the second.

He then turns to Iida, who looks at him, eyes wide with confusion. Katsuki says, "Thanks" before quickly heading back upstairs.

He takes refuge in the kitchen that's since emptied, leaning back against the counter with another beer in hand. Spotting the elaborate light switch panel on the wall, he flicks through the different settings: one, only the left side of the kitchen, another, the right. The next one is just the overhead fluorescents, another the soft, warm glow of the can lights. The last setting casts a shadow on most of the room. He likes that one best.

Iida was right, of course. He has made a lot of progress in the past couple of years. He's been able to keep the top spot in the class more often than not, despite the fierce competition. He's also worked on his anger issues because he understands he needs to be - he rolls his eyes - nicer to be a good hero. But Iida was referring to something more specific. To Deku.

It's been a long time since Katsuki reflected on his relationship with Izuku. After he started working with All Might to help him master One for All, the two of them found a grind that worked, and before he knew it, they'd become more than just training partners or rivals.

Friends.

Katsuki groans. He tilts his head back, finishing the beer before grabbing another.

"Now where's shitty hair… I wanna punch something."

/

When Katsuki gets back down to the basement, they're in the middle of playing some kind of drinking game. He sits on the arm of the couch and tries not to make eye contact with anyone, as not to give anyone the idea that he has any interest in whatever's happening.

"I have one! Who is most likely to bag a hot babe?" Mineta slurps.

Giggles and groans erupt over the room, but, much to Mineta's dismay, everyone points to Todoroki, who blushes as he takes a small sip. Mina offers the next one.

"Oh! Most likely to get arrested for something stupid!"

Katsuki's classmates have mixed reactions for this one, many pointing to Kaminari, some to Sero. What ensues is meaningless debate. It's exhausting, really, and Katsuki can't bring himself to care. The nice thing is that they don't force him into anything anymore, which he appreciates. His tolerance for their bullshit has increased, but he's well aware of his still all-too-short fuse. He takes a deep breath.

"Who's most likely to sell out?" Sero asks.

Uraraka points to herself and starts drinking, eliciting shocked laughter from the group. She thinks of the next one.

"Okay, okay, most likely to save someone from a burning building?"

It's no surprise to Katsuki when most everyone points to Izuku, who's already distracted by something Tsuyu's saying.

"Bakugou?" Mina asks him, incredulous as she gets Izuku's attention.

Izuku looks up, blushing as he catches Katsuki's glare, realizing he's the only one who pointed to him. He laughs, shrugging as he takes a drink.

Katsuki can feel the heat rise in his face and suddenly becomes very preoccupied with the pull-tab of his beer can.

"Most likely to never get married?"

He does his best to tune them out for the rest of the game, finishing his beer as he does. It ends eventually, and when he looks up next, he realizes Kaminari and Kirishima have migrated over to him again.

"What's so great about him anyway?" Kaminari asks, looking past them at the group of girls talking with Todoroki, one being Kaminari's girlfriend, Jirou.

Katsuki rolls his eyes. He couldn't be less interested in this conversation.

"Oh, pshh," Kirishima looks in the same direction, sobering up with a cup of water. "Dude, she's definitely not his type."

"How do you know that?"

"You can just tell! Like, Mina's type is strong, buff, manly men." He gestures to himself with a flourish. "And Jirou obviously doesn't go for the classically handsome guys."

"Fuck off!" He punches Kirishima in the arm, who cackles. "Wait wait wait, so… what's Katsuki's type?"

Katsuki squints at them. When has he ever been interested in dating?

"Hmm… I don't know if he has one. It'd have to be someone who could deal with his bullshit."

"Yeah! Someone who could keep up with him."

"Hmmm." Kirishima puts on a big show of pondering as he scratches his chin.

"What are you morons going on about?" Katsuki grumbles.

Kaminari taps his nose and points behind him. Katsuki whirls around to see Izuku, who's now joined the Todoroki fan club, rambling on and on about God knows what. Katsuki turns back to glower at the two idiots.

"What -"

"Todoroki might just sweep him off his feet."

Katsuki foolishly takes the bait, internally admonishing himself as he turns to look again, only to see they've dispersed. Kaminari snickers.

"Oh, you're DEAD." He grabs fistfuls of both of their shirts and slams them against the wall. But before he can do any real damage, Momo's voice rings out over the madness.

"BAKUGOU. OUTSIDE."

Katsuki takes the cue to leave, holding up his hands defensively as he steps back, swaying slightly as he does.

He's only had alcohol a handful of times. Once at his aunt's wedding when he was fifteen, and his cousin let him drink from a naggin of some nasty whiskey. Once when Mina stole a couple of bottles of wine from her mom and snuck them into the dorm after exams last year. And once when they drank beer and played video games for Kaminari's eighteenth birthday. He's still not sure if he's the partying type.

Tonight is different, though, but he can't figure out exactly why. He grasps the railing as he walks up the stairs, swearing under his breath when his outreached hand misses the door handle.

When he gets to the kitchen, he sees a wisp of green hair out the window, undoubtedly belonging to the green-haired boy they were teasing him about. He takes a breath and swings open the backdoor to the garden. The frigid air hits his lungs hard, unfortunately doing little to sober him up.

"Oh, it's you! I just needed a break." He gives him a small smile.

Hands firmly in his jacket pockets, Katsuki walks over to him and takes a deep breath, a cloud of condensation leaving his lips.

"I'm technically… in a time out."

Izuku glances to the house and then back at Katsuki. "I was just - What'd you do this time?"

Katsuki groans.

"Wait, let me guess." Izuku hums. "Shinsou kept trying to talk to you, and you ignored him, so he started messing with you until you flew off the handle and -" He smirks. "Did you burn something?"

"Maybe." Katsuki looks to the clear night sky. It does sound like him. And Shinsou is fucking annoying. Better than anything he could come up with. "You fuckin' stalker."

Izuku laughs. "We've known each other for a long time. I like to think I know you." He doesn't meet Katsuki's eyes. Instead, he focuses on the bare branches of the cherry tree. Only a few months now until they are in bloom.

"Jury's still out."

"You think?"

"Name one thing about me, quick." Katsuki doesn't know where his words are coming from. Maybe it's related to how the edges of his vision have begun to blur, his eyelids feeling heavy.

"Uh…" Izuku shies away, the tips of his ears burning. After a moment, he takes a quick breath, and his words start to tumble out. "For the most recent upgrade to your suit, you requested a special snack-holding area n-not because you need to eat for your quirk but because you get extra cranky when you haven't eaten."

"Cranky?" Katsuki throws his head back to laugh, then looks Izuku dead in the eyes, serious again in an instant. "If you ever tell another living soul, I will have your ass for breakfast."

"You're going to… eat my ass for breakfast?" Izuku lips twitch into a smile.

Katsuki fumes, his face redder than a plum. "You better watch yourself, you little twerp. Just because we're friends doesn't mean I can't beat you to a pulp!"

"We're friends?" Izuku beams.

Just as he looks like he's about to tear Izuku a new one, Katsuki turns away, finishing his beer. "Don't get a big head about it."

Izuku laughs, the sound bright and joyful, plucking at Katsuki's brain.

"I'm really glad you came, Kacchan."

Katsuki grunts. "I guess it isn't the worst party I've been to."

"Are you thinking of Iida's last summer? When he couldn't figure out how to use the grill so -"

"So he asked me to cook the steaks and then got mad when I burnt them? Yeah."

"I just remember your face when he was laying into you…" Izuku giggles - definitely one of his more infuriating behaviors. "You were furious."

He frowns. "That's what I get for trying to help. Whatever."

When Izuku's finished laughing, he looks at Katsuki. "I know you try really hard." His gaze lingers on him a moment too long, not that Katsuki isn't used to his interminable stare by now.

Feeling heat rise to his face, Katsuki clears his throat, stumbling back. In an instant, Izuku's hands are his elbows, stabilizing him, his voice coated with concern.

"Wooah, hey, you okay?"

Katsuki shrugs him off, steadying himself. "Tch. Better than you." This earns him a chuckle, at least.

"Let's get you some water, how about?" Izuku gently ushers him back inside.

"Get off me, nerd." Katsuki protests, despite the fact that Izuku isn't technically touching him.

Inside, Katsuki leans against the edge of the island, watching Izuku as he searches the cabinets for a glass, then moves to the sink to turn on the tap. He holds the glass underneath the water flow, filling it up halfway before turning around to hand it to Katsuki.

He dips his head down to take a sip, staring down Izuku all the while. There's a moment - it's unclear if Katsuki imagines it - when Izuku's eyes go wide, color coming to his cheeks, a momentary flicker of something Katsuki can't name, broken by a laugh.

"You're always so intense when you drink! Er… I suppose I shouldn't be surprised." He looks away, scratching behind his head.

Katsuki narrows his eyes at him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I dunno, I, um…" Izuku takes a breath, his brow scrunched together in anxiety.

There have been plenty of these moments, moments when it feels off between them, and Katsuki can never pinpoint why. It feels like Izuku is holding back, like there's something he wants to say, but he never ever does. And if this doesn't piss Katsuki the fuck off.

"What's your problem?" Katsuki sets down his glass with a little more force than he intends.

"Um - nothing?" Izuku chews on his bottom lip, looking anxious as all hell.

In seconds, Katsuki's closed the distance between them, his arms trapping him on either side as he grips the edge of the sink. The blood immediately drains from Izuku's face as he looks up at Katsuki.

"Tell me." Katsuki snarls.

Izuku's face twists. Katsuki stares down at him, the rage inside him about to boil over. He jumps when the countdown to midnight starts from the other room, their classmates chanting together,

"Ten… nine… eight..."

Katsuki looks back at Izuku again, his chest tightening inexplicably. Izuku studies him, his face a mixture of confusion and fear.

"Seven… six…"

He swallows, his brow softening, looking back and forth between Katsuki's eyes. What is he looking for? What is he…

Katsuki takes a shaky breath, suddenly acutely aware of how close they are, how heavy his legs are against Izuku's, how warm he is next to Katsuki.

"Five… four… three…"

Izuku lips part ever so slightly, and Katsuki can't help but glance down at them. He's frozen, his stomach churning. He can feel Izuku's harsh exhale cool on his neck. Izuku blinks up at him and takes another shallow breath.

"Two… one… HAPPY NEW YEAR!" They hear the bells ring and their classmates whooping and cheering as they celebrate, all the while unable to take their eyes off each other.

His brain in a fog, slowly, carefully, Katsuki feels himself lean in, his eyelids drooping as he angles his head to just, ever-so-carefully -

"Kacchan?"

Katsuki pauses, looking down at Izuku who's eyes have fluttered closed. The second drags on, and then in an instant, he's slipped away.