Izuku is careful not to break into a sprint as he propels himself down the hallway. How did he sleep through his alarms? Did no one think to check on him? It isn't, of course, anyone's responsibility but his own whether he gets up on time or not, but come on! He hadn't even had time to brush his hair before throwing on some pants and running out the door.

He skirts around the corner, finally seeing the sign for class 3-A. As he approaches, he forces his legs to slow down before going in. Heartbeat in his throat, he swings open the door.

"Hi! Sorry I'm late! I -"

"Yes, yes, take a seat." Aizawa only glances at him before continuing to address the class. "I was just going over a few important announcements for this semester."

Izuku scurries over to his desk. Though initially he decides he won't look at Katsuki, too fearful of a sneer or a snide remark, in the end, he can't help himself, raising his gaze to see him looking out the window, rather pointedly, in Izuku's opinion.

He takes his seat behind Katsuki and unzips his backpack, taking out his notebook and pens and setting them on his desk. It's all he can do to keep his eyes open right now.

A week of sitting at home alone with his thoughts has done little good for Izuku. He spent a good amount of his time going over every single moment of that night in excruciating detail. He even texted Katsuki a few times but never received a reply. It proved to be too big of a challenge to try to put it out of his mind completely.

Luckily, his mother had given him a list of chores to do, and he was thankful, if only for the distraction. He ended up getting really into it, working his way through the entire apartment, deep-cleaning every nook and cranny (the oven, too) until it was spotless and shining. He was proud of himself. Even if he wasn't able to see his mom as much anymore (which she never failed to chide him about), he was thankful to have shown her, in this way, how much he cares before going back to school.

On the bus back to UA's campus, Izuku had felt confident about the upcoming week. He had a productive break and was ready to get back into action. That is until he spotted Katsuki walking up to the double doors of their dorm, a canvas bag of laundry slung over his shoulder, freezing Izuku in his tracks.

What was Izuku so nervous about, exactly? He didn't know.

But that didn't seem to matter because his thoughts had kept him up far too late that night, circling around again and again before finally letting him sleep.

Izuku blinks, trying his best to be present for today's lecture. He wills himself to open his notebook and hold his pen steadily to paper as he starts to copy down the words Aizawa says, something to do with training tomorrow. He promises himself he'll untangle it all later. He just has to get through the day.

"Are you listening to me?"

He panics for a second, worried that his teacher can tell just how out of it he is until he realizes Aizawa is talking to Katsuki, who gives a stiff nod in return, his fists clenched against his desk.

"As I said, those who haven't solidified what they're doing after graduation are encouraged to meet with a faculty member as soon as possible. Meaning, if for whatever reason, you have the urge to talk to me, I am… available."

"Who hasn't chosen an agency?" Sero asks, a dubious look on his face. Katsuki looks back to glare at him, his eyes flitting to Izuku before he turns to the front again.

Izuku frowns at the back of his head. Has he not yet chosen an agency? That probably makes him the last in their class to do so. By now, everyone has had many experiences working with different agencies. Many had accepted offers by the time they'd finished their second year. That's what Izuku had done. He'd helped Mirio, Centipeder, and Bubble Girl rebuild Nighteye's agency, and before he could ask to join them himself, they'd offered him a spot on their team, which he graciously accepted.

Izuku wonders if Katsuki has a plan of some sort. Was something wrong? Maybe he could talk to him, help him figure out -

He reaches out to poke him, then immediately retracts his hand, thinking better of it.

When Aizawa lets them go for lunch, Katsuki drops his shoulder and strides out of the classroom as quickly as he can.

"What was that?" Sero asks.

"I don't know." Izuku stands, gathering his things to leave.

"Hey. Are you doing okay?" He turns to see Uraraka behind him, her thumbs around the straps of her backpack, her brow furrowed despite her easy smile.

"Yeah… yeah." Iida appears next to her, looking just as concerned, if not more so, with Tsuyu close behind. "Just fine! Let's go to lunch!"

Iida eyes Izuku, as if he's not sure he should believe him, but leaves it for now, to Izuku's relief.

/

By the time they get to the cafeteria, it's already filled with people. Izuku breaks off to grab some noodles before heading to their regular table, where Todoroki and Tsuyu sit. The instant Izuku sits down across from him, Todoroki's on his case.

"So. What's going on with you?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"What do you mean, what do I mean? I don't hear from you all break, and then you come in late on the first day back looking like hell." He points to the bags under Izuku's eyes, wearing a neutral expression all the while.

"The real question is, why did no one think to wake me up!" Izuku laughs.

"Honestly, we thought you'd gotten a head start. We were surprised when you weren't in class already."

Izuku shrugs. "I guess that's fair." He brings a spoonful of broth to his mouth and blows on it carefully. Todoroki sighs, his gaze unrelenting as he waits for an answer to his original question. That's the thing with Todoroki; he can always see right through Izuku.

"Something happened." He swallows, lowering his voice. "At the party."

Todoroki raises his eyebrows. "What happened at the party?"
Izuku lets out a large breath, letting his whole body rise and fall with it. "It was strange. Kacchan -"

"If he's giving you a hard time again -"

"No." Izuku looks down, stirring his noodles idly. "It's not like that. Not exactly. It's… I almost feel silly to imply that… Like, I'm not even sure…" He rakes his hands through his hair, looking past Todoroki. He catches Katsuki looking at him across the room, then averting his gaze immediately. Izuku squirms in his seat.

"Oh…" Todoroki purses his lips. "Wait -" He turns to look at whatever's making Izuku's cheeks burn, but Izuku grabs his arm across the table, stopping him.

"I don't know what happened? I mean, nothing happened -"

At this, Todoroki's brow raises even higher.

"It was - we were just, you know. And… but, then…"

Todoroki shakes his head. "Look, you don't have to tell me, your best friend. I'm not offended -"

"Thanks, Shouto."

"- and I suppose my advice would probably be the same no matter what you tell me anyway." There's a tense moment where they stare at each other, and Izuku wonders if he's supposed to guess what he means.

"Should I…"

. "Talk to him."

"Right." When he glances at Katsuki again, he's talking with his friends, relaxed, natural. It's he who catches Izuku staring this time, but Izuku waves, which makes Katsuki grimace.

Against his better judgment, Izuku finds himself getting up to walk across the cafeteria. He tries to ignore the pounding in his ears as his legs move him closer and closer.

Katsuki looks disgruntled at best. He doesn't say anything as Izuku finally reaches their table, and he doesn't say anything when he sits down across from him. That's probably the most of an invitation Izuku's ever going to get, to be fair.

"Hey guys." Izuku waves to Kirishima, Mina, and Sero. "Hey Kacchan. How are you?"

"Fine." He narrows his eyes at Izuku, and there's a long moment before Izuku's brain switches to autopilot and he starts chattering away.

"Are you excited to train with Class B tomorrow? I'm excited. I hope I get paired up with Shinsou. I really like their style of using the binding scarf, and I'm hoping I can try out some new techniques Aizawa-sensei taught me for the blackwhip, so maybe they can give me pointers. There was one in particular that I was having a hard time with…" Izuku goes on, describing the tiny intricacies of the movements he's working on, considering base-points and angles and velocity and everything in between. Lately, he's been watching old videos of Eraserhead (the few times he's been substantially caught on camera) and there's a lot Izuku hadn't considered in regards to balance and force that their teacher seemed to exemplify.

Sooner or later, Izuku starts to get self-conscious, unable to tell just how long he's been rambling on for now. He checks Katsuki's face for the inevitable display of anger, but he's just… listening. Maybe with the same grimace. But he's not interrupting, just listening?

Feeling more uncomfortable by the second, Izuku trails off, ending the interaction with an apology and a rushed excuse to leave. He goes back to his seat, his movements robotic as he sits down to finish the rest of his food.

"How'd it go?"
"What? Oh, yeah." He looks over again, surprised at his disappointment to see the table now empty. When did Katsuki become so unreadable? And why did it make him so… anxious?

Todoroki doesn't push it this time, and after lunch, they walk in silence to the training grounds next to the gym. Aizawa says they're doing general strength training today, which looks different for everyone. Izuku starts with drills up and down the steps, but, when it starts to rain, he moves inside to the weight room, all the while unable to get Katsuki off his mind.

He thought for sure Katsuki was going to work with Endeavor, as they'd connected during their work study with him, and it only makes sense for Katsuki to join the other flame heroes. He also thought Katsuki would join Best Jeanist's agency, as they'd clearly created a bond during his initial internship with him. It would maybe make sense for him to join Hawks because his agency still has so much room to grow, and Izuku knows he wants to stand out. He even remembers Katsuki bragging about how he could go basically anywhere he wanted because he's in "such high demand."

They've already met with All Might multiple times since they started their third year, and Katsuki has yet to bring it up. It seems like a pretty big thing to leave out. Maybe that makes sense - maybe he's embarrassed. How has Izuku missed this?

He doesn't rule anything out, going over the details again as he tries to put together the few puzzle pieces in his possession. Maybe what happened at the party is connected somehow. It would explain Katsuki's strange behavior, at least in a way…

"I'll ask him the next time I see him!"

"Cool." Todoroki nods, looking up from his place on the bench press.

"Oh! I forgot you were here!"

Todoroki's usually stoic expression cracks into a smile, and he laughs, which makes Izuku laugh, too.

Izuku decides that whatever happens, it'll be okay. It's just Kacchan.

/

Strangely enough, he doesn't see Katsuki after class or later at the dorms. He wonders if he's avoiding him but wills himself not to jump to conclusions just yet.

It's almost two in the morning when Izuku rolls over to check the clock for the time. He groans. Determined not to have another restless night, he dons some sweatpants and sneakers and decides to go for a late-night run.

When he steps outside, he takes a moment to breathe in the cool night air, still sweet from the rain. It's a particularly warm night for the middle of January, the wind refreshing against his cheeks and as he takes off down the trail into the nearby trees. He's thankful for such a clear night, the light of the moon illuminating his path as he follows along the river.

Soon, the comforting familiarity of the dull burn in his muscles returns, grounding him in his body, though only a few minutes pass before he's startled nearly half-to-death by a familiar voice.

"DEKU?"

He whirls around to see Katsuki emerge from behind the trees, only parts of his face lit up by the light that reaches them. He wears a pair of gray sweatpants and an old black crewneck sweatshirt that fits him well. He looks exhausted, his movements sluggish as he slows down a few feet from Izuku.

"What are you doing out here?"
"Would you keep it down? You're gonna wake everyone!"

"No one's out here. SEE? I CAN YELL AS LOUD AS I WANT, MOR -"

Before he can think twice, Izuku's hand flies to cover Katsuki's mouth. His eyes go wide before narrowing in on Izuku.

"Please be quiet!" He feels Katsuki bite down on the fleshy part of his palm. "Ouch! Kacchan!"
"Moron." He turns his head to spit. "You didn't answer my question." His eyes are piercing, especially when the moonlight hits them.

"What?"

"What are you doing here?"
"Couldn't sleep. You?"

Katsuki shakes his head, then breaks eye contact. "Same."

Izuku shuffles his foot against the dirt. "How was your break? Was being home okay?"

Katsuki's mouth twitches. Izuku gets the urge to reach out and touch the soft crinkles around his eyes. He doesn't.

"Yeah, it's better these days."

"I'm really glad to hear it."

Katsuki doesn't say anything to this. Izuku wonders if it was a good idea for him to bring up his home life right now. But who else would ask him?

Maybe it isn't the best time to talk about that night, either, but the silence drags on between them, and Izuku can't help but break it.

"I'm sorry about what happened Friday -"

"Oh, yeah." The moon casts a shadow across Katsuki's face as he takes a step back. "Don't - don't worry about it."

"What?"

"I don't even really remember what happened, so."

"Huh. I didn't realize you were that drunk?"

"Well, I guess you don't know me as well as you think."

Izuku frowns. "Were you okay?"

"Hah?"

"The next morning? Were you, like, hungover, er -"

"No, 'course not!" Katsuki looks increasingly agitated, his shoulders tensing up.

"It just - it seems like something's wrong. Is this about how you haven't picked an agency -"

"Shut up, Deku!" Katsuki moves toward him, then stops short, his face pulled into a scowl. "Do me a favor and just - leave me the fuck alone, all right?" He grits his teeth and lets out a sharp breath before starting back on his jog down the trail.

Izuku doesn't follow him, unable to move from his spot underneath the trees, his heart aching as he watches him leave.