Author's note: Hi everyone! This chapter is actually divided into two separate parts. I don't like writing excessively long chapters because they are a pain to edit, but they're also a little difficult to read. I hope to publish the second part in a day or two. For now, please enjoy this update. Thank you for reading. I appreciate all of the follows, favorites, and reviews!
Takara heard the beep of the alarm turning off then the click of the lock releasing. Her heart sped up in anticipation. She would finally see him.
"Takara!" Izuku called. "Where are you?"
"I'm in the bedroom!" she answered, closing her book and laying it aside on the table next to the chaise lounge.
Although everything within her wanted her to jump up, to run to him, and fling herself into his arms, she stayed put. She had been reading to pass the time until he arrived home from work. She could not remember a single word she had supposedly read.
Izuku entered the room in his typical casual summer outfit of knee length khaki cargo shorts, a red t-shirt, and his green hoodie over that with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His hair still mussed and wet from his shower made her want to comb through it with her fingers. Not so much to straighten it, she adored his messy hair, but just to touch him and get her hands into that glorious mane.
"Hi," she greeted him in a breathy gush of air.
"Hi," he returned, sitting down in front of her on the seat of the lounger when she pulled her feet up to sit in a cross legged position. "What are you doing awake? It's after midnight."
"Waiting for you," she replied despite her reason being self-evident.
Takara leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and shoulders to embrace him an a somewhat awkward sideways hug.
"I've missed you," she said.
"It's only been two days," he chuckled, turning his chest toward her and squeezing her tightly.
So tightly her breasts flattened against his chest. However, she was wearing his red hoodie and the multiple layers of fabric between them kept the embrace from being sexually stimulating, only comforting. Reluctantly letting him go, she sat back in the lounger.
"I guess I got spoiled seeing you every day," she admitted, a sweet pink blush tinting her cheeks.
"I've missed you too," he confessed, his freckled cheeks flooding with color.
A little thrill rushed through her body making her entire body feel electrified. He made her feel giddy and childish. Has she never truly been in love before? She could not recall anyone making her feel like this ever before in her life.
"So that's where that went. I was looking for that," he said.
"Huh?"
Izuku tugged on one of the untied strings hanging down from the hood. "I was looking for this."
"Sorry. I stole it last night. I got cold while Katsuki and I were watching a movie. I don't know how you two don't freeze to death. You keep it like a freezer in there," she said, shivering and pulling the hood over her head as if thinking about it made her cold.
"Feels like you've turned your ac down too," he remarked, pushing the hood back from her head. His large, warm hand pressed against the back of her neck, drawing her forward and into his arms for another embrace. "Being cold is good for snuggling right?"
"Right," she agreed happily, pressing her cheek against his neck.
Takara could feel his pulse thrumming against her skin. His heart beat fast, irregularly.
"Are you okay?" she asked, trying to lean back but he held her firmly to him.
"I'm fine," he assured her, squeezing her a little tighter.
Her ribs ached a bit from his powerful embrace. Breathing became a little difficult but nothing to complain about. His heart beat so strongly she would swear it was vibrating her body.
"Did something happen at work? Is that why you're getting home so late?" she asked, her fingers gripping his brawny shoulders to strengthen her hold on him. He began to shake as if he might fall apart.
"I don't want to talk about it. I just want to be here with you. Like this. I just..." His voice broke with a sob.
"De-... Izuku," she corrected herself, deciding not to use his hero name right now.
Somehow she had the feeling that was the last thing he wanted to hear. He needed to be just Izuku Midoriya, not a hero, at the moment.
Her hand moved to the back to his head. His silky hair shaved down to his skin tickled her palm as she slid it up to the top of his head. Her fingers buried themselves in the tousled mess on top, gently pushing through as not to pull the tangles while trying to soothe him as he cried in her arms.
Takara would hate to admit his refusal to talk about what bothered him to this extreme degree actually relieved her. She already shared his pain not knowing. To see him this upset not only broke her heart but also struck a chord of fear deep inside of her. Whatever happened had to be bad, real bad, to warrant this reaction from him.
Tears stung her eyes as she listened to him sniffling, his body shaking in her arms. Even heroes had a breaking point. People, including her, had a tendency to forget heroes were still only human despite their fantastic abilities and superhuman deeds. Not one, not that she knew of, possessed the quirk of having no feelings at all. Some of the villains though very well might.
"I'm sorry," he apologized in a whisper.
"Don't," she said firmly, hugging him so fiercely her arms ached. "Don't you ever apologize for having feelings. For being human."
"Can I - " His breathing hitched, the sudden inhale preventing him from talking.
Takara unwound her arms from him so she could sit back and see his teary, reddened face through her own tear filled eyes. She smiled in spite of the overwhelming sadness she attempted to help him bear. Cupping his cheek, her eyes met his. Their green color appeared more brilliant than ever through the prism of his tears, almost glowing.
"Can I stay with you tonight? I need - " He inhaled sharply. His eyes closed shutting off their luminescent new shade of emerald.
"I'm here for you. I always will be. As long as you'll have me," she added quickly which made his eyes open wide. "I love you."
"What?" He did not blink or pull away. Just stared wide eyed at her, his hands resting on her waist.
"I'm sorry," she gasped, stunned by her own unexpected confession.
She slapped her hands over her gaping mouth as he continued to gaze at her shocked and speechless - the metaphorical deer in the headlights.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said that so soon. But... " She held his face between both of her hands.
Her entire body trembled. Her heart ached in her chest with overflowing emotion, as she fitted her mouth to his for a chaste but heartfelt kiss. Blinking back the tears that she could barely keep at bay, her eyes met his.
"But I do. I love you," she said. Her eyes drifted down from his to stare at the zipper of his jacket when he did not say anything. "You don't have to say it back. I'll understand if you don't feel the same. Izuku, I'm - "
"Stop," he said quietly, his voice gentle.
His forefinger touched under her chin, coaxing her to turn her head back up so he could look into her eyes again.
"I feel the same way." A small smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "By the way, how was the date with Kacchan the other night? I haven't had a chance to ask."
"You knew about that?" she asked, flabbergasted that he and Katsuki had actually discussed the matter.
"Of course I knew. I helped plan it, although Kacchan did most of the work. I mostly told him where you would be and how to find you. So how was it?"
"You're okay with..." She paused, making a circular motion with her palm horizontally in the air. "All of this? The three of us."
"Well, we've never actually talked about it, but I think we all know we're in this relationship together...all three of us. How was the date?" he inquired again as if their situation was not unique.
"It was great. Very romantic. The filling he made for the sandwiches was amazing. It was really good. Did you help him prepare the food?"
"Nope. That was all him. He's actually a really good cook. The trick is motivating him to get into the kitchen to do it."
Takara giggled which was interrupted by a yawn.
"We should get to bed," Izuku said, standing up from the chaise. "You have rehearsal tomorrow."
"It doesn't start until noon," she yawned again as he took her by the hands and pulled her to her feet. "It will be a quick run through of the performance...a dress rehearsal for theater... so it's no big deal."
Izuku led her to the bed, pulling back the covers. Takara climbed in between the sheets, scooting over to the far side to make room for him.
"What are you doing?" he asked. He had been prepared to tuck her in and sleep on top of the covers like before.
"You said you wanted to stay. So come on," she said, patting the black sheet. "I don't bite."
"What if I do?" he returned, his eyebrow jumping playfully which gave him a mischievous little boy expression.
"Oh, you naughty boy!" she gasped, feigning indignation surprised by his bold flirtation.
Both of them laughed lightly as he unzipped his hoodie and tossed it behind him onto the lounger where they had been sitting. He left his t-shirt and shorts on to get into the bed next to her. She was still covered up in her hoodie, t-shirt, and sleep shorts.
Just right for snuggling indeed. Izuku slid over next to her, taking her into his arms to hold her. Takara tucked her head under his chin, grasping his t-shirt with both hands. Nothing would go on here tonight but sleeping.
She wanted to keep him close for as long as possible. His touch, his heartbeat, soothed her. Apparently he felt the same way as he kept his arms securely, protectively, around her shoulders and waist throughout the night. Neither one of them moved nor relinquished their hold on the other.
Some time the next morning, they awakened but stayed silent and still, not wanting to move. Since the blinds and the blackout curtains were closed to keep out the sunlight, they had no way of estimating the time. Takara knew it had to be before ten because the alarm she had set on her phone had not yet sounded.
"This is nice," Izuku whispered, his vocal chords vibrating against the top of her head.
"It is. I wish we could stay like this forever," she murmured, her fingers clenching and unclenching around the soft folds of fabric held between them.
Three beeps followed by the click of the front door lock sliding back warned them they had company.
"Rise and shine! I'm comin' in!" Katsuki yelled to warn them of his impending arrival. "Ya better have clothes on dammit!"
"Ugh," Takara groaned, peeling herself away from Izuku.
"Morning!" he chirped as Katsuki entered the room.
Oh, dear god, he's a morning person, she moaned inwardly, pulling the covers over head.
The scrape of metal against metal told her the curtains were being drawn open to let the sunshine in. Her fingers curled into the comforter over her head to hold it securely in preparation for what she knew would be coming next. Someone tugged at the covers but she held fast not yet ready to face the day.
"Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty," Katsuki growled, snatching the blanket right out of her grip.
Takara hissed like a vampire and curled into a ball, slamming her pillow over her head.
"Hey, I brought you something," Katsuki said, grabbing the pillow and tossing it aside impatiently. It hit the wall with a muted thump and fell to the floor.
"Pillow!" she whined like a child, sitting up and making grabby hands.
"Shut up!" he shouted.
"Kacchan, give her a break. We were up late last night," Izuku said.
"Sit up, big baby," the perpetually irritable blonde muttered, sliding behind her to act as her pillow. He shoved a paper carry out cup in front of her nose. "I brought you something."
Takara sniffed. Coffee. And not just any coffee. She smelled the cloyingly sweet aroma of white chocolate. Her favorite!
"Ooooh, white chocolate mocha," she cooed, seizing the cup with both hands. "How did you know?"
"He's your biggest fan," Izuku said, sounding very amused. "He's read every article, every little snippet of information posted on social media anywhere about you."
"You kinda sound like a creeper, Bakugo," Takara teased him, loudly sipping at the searing hot liquid that felt as if it would burn a hole through the plastic lid and her tongue.
"Shut up," he grumbled, enclosing her waist with his arms.
Takara settled back against his broad chest to enjoy her coffee while Izuku sat next to them propped against his pillow to drink his tea or coffee or whatever Katsuki brought him.
"I left the croissants in the kitchen," he informed them.
"Chocolate?" she ventured a hopeful guess.
"Do you like another kind for breakfast?"
"Yum."
Izuku chuckled in amusement at their exchange. He had never known of Katsuki to be so accommodating to anyone - ever.
"You'll have to get up to eat breakfast," Katsuki grumbled. "I've been waiting for hours for you two lazy asses to wake up."
"Not everybody goes to bed at eight o' clock. Now who's the baby?" Takara teased him, receiving a light pinch on the side. "Ouch! Meanie."
"You wouldn't have me any other way," His fingers massaged the place on her hip where he had pinched her. That was Katsuki in two movements; could be mean as hell and cause pain but then could be gentle and sweet the next.
"I'm going out with two friends for dinner. Would you like to come? I'd like for them to meet you," Izuku said.
"Definitely. What about Katsuki?" she asked, feeling his body stiffen against her back.
"I'm good," he assured her. "We're not attached at the hip, you know. Besides, I already have plans with Kirishima and Kaminari. They're both coming Saturday night."
"By the way, I bought another table and invited more friends. I hope you don't mind," Izuku interjected.
"Why would I mind? The more the merrier. All the proceeds go to the children's hospital. I'm thrilled. Although I wish you had told me. I could have gotten them. I don't mind."
"Nah, it's fine. You already paid for one table."
Takara's stomach clenched so violently nausea swamped her. So many of their friends would be there. She wanted to make a good impression. Her performance had to be perfect. Absolutely perfect.
"Are you nervous? About Saturday night?" Katsuki asked her, stroking her arm as if to comfort her.
"I'm always nervous before a performance," she murmured, sipping her super sweet and delicious coffee drink.
"Don't worry. You'll be great like always," Izuku said, leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek.
"I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed in you two," Katsuki interjected, his arms winding around her body to squeeze her like a python as if Izuku planned to snatch her out of his embrace. "You spent the whole night, just the two of you in bed together, and I find you both fully clothed this morning."
"Kacchan," Izuku sighed as if disappointed, his face turning a shade of red to match his cherry red t-shirt.
Takara exhaled and rolled her eyes. Katsuki just would not be himself if he did not say or do something to shock and offend, to absolutely murder a poignant moment. Somehow this desire to sabotage heartwarming moments became part of his abrasive charm.
"Come on, get up," he encouraged her rather roughly, pushing her out of the bed.
"All right, all right!" she exclaimed, shaking out his grip as he tried to push her toward the door. "Geez, I can walk."
"Move it, lady. How about a morning swim after breakfast?" he suggested, following her to the kitchen.
She glanced at the clock on the stove. 7:12. God it's early! There was plenty of time for a swim.
"I can do a few laps. Then I have to go to rehearsal."
"I can drive on you," Katsuki offered, opening the box on the counter and grabbing one of the croissants. Instead of eating it, he handed the pastry to her.
"On your motorcycle? No thanks," she quickly responded, taking a big bite of the flaky, buttery pastry. No burst of bittersweet chocolate. "Are you sure there's chocolate in this?"
"No, not on my motorcycle. Where would you put your cello, dummy? I can drive your car then pick you up."
"Why would you do that?"
"I need to borrow it."
"Why?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out," he snapped. When she glared hotly at him, he added, "It's a surprise."
"All you had to do was ask, idiot," she muttered, taking another huge chomp of the croissant. The silky sweet chocolate with a slightly bitter edge oozed over her tongue. "Mmmm, chocolate."
"You're a pig," Katsuki muttered, his nose wrinkling and his upper lip peeling back as if appalled by her voracious appetite.
"You're an asshole," she retorted with zero hesitation, reaching for another croissant.
Izuku stayed silent drinking his tea and eating his croissant. He wanted no part of their verbal battle. Insults and cross words was Kacchan's favorite way of communicating, and he had found someone who could speak his language. Why would he interrupt their lively banter?
"Sweetheart," she said, looking at Izuku.
"Hmmm?" he hummed in inquiry, gazing at her over the top of his cup.
"Want to join us for a swim?"
"I'm afraid I can't. I have to get to the office to finish my paperwork. There's also a few other things I need to take care of," he murmured, staring down at his hands.
"Are you going to be all right? I can meet you after rehearsal. I'll be close by and - "
He glanced at Katsuki then at her. "No. I'll be fine. I'm not sure how long this will take."
"How long what will take?" she asked. The worry blossoming in her chest constricting her lungs made her breaths ragged.
"It will be okay," Katsuki said, laying his hand over hers resting on the counter-top.
He picked up her hand to hold it. When his eyes met hers, they were sad, gentle, and pleading as if begging her to understand and stop asking questions. It was if he was warning her not to push the matter, that she did not want to be involved. But how could she not be involved?
"It's just hero stuff we have to deal with some times. Sometimes things happen beyond our control. Bad things," he explained in the vaguest terms possible. He squeezed her hand. "Everything will be okay. Deku will be okay. Let it go. Please."
"All right," she gulped, truly disturbed by Katsuki's reaction.
"Go get your swim suit on. You got calories to burn," he reminded her, dropping her hand.
"Asshole," she muttered, hopping off the bar stool to stand beside Izuku.
Takara put her arms around him him, kissing his cheek. Without saying another word, she went to the bedroom. As she changed, she could hear them talking but the words were muffled and indecipherable through the walls.
After putting on her red bow bikini, she wrapped a towel around herself and opened the door to her room. The voices in the kitchen instantly went silent.
Izuku met her at the end of the hall where the open layout of the foyer, kitchen and living room began. He put his arms around her, trapping her in bear hug since she was holding her towel in place with one hand.
Her one free arm hooked around his waist in a feeble attempt to return the crushing embrace. She would swear he was trying to pull enough consoling reassurance from her body to last him through the day.
"I'll see you tonight at seven thirty," he said before kissing her on the cheek.
"I'll be ready," she promised. "I'm looking forward to meeting your friends."
"Good." He gave her a swift peck on the lips and turned to go.
"See ya, nerd," Katsuki called after Izuku but it was said with affection. He turned to her and asked, "Ready?"
Takara had not even noticed earlier in her half asleep state that he was wearing his black swim trunks with the flames on them in addition to his black tank top. Apparently he had been prepared to take a swim with or without her. If she was not fully awake now she would lay back down in bed.
"What does it look like?" she asked, opening the towel to show him her swimsuit.
His gleaming scarlet eyes looked her over from head to toe approvingly. A leering grin perked up one side of his mouth when she wrapped the towel back around her before his eyes could complete another trip over her body.
"Damn. I'd say you look fucking fantastic. Speaking of fucking - "
"No!" she yelled, cutting him off before he could complete that sentence. She raised a finger, wagging it at him like one does a misbehaving puppy. "No, no! Let's not."
"I was just going to say I'm a little disappointed you two didn't last night," he said, ushering her to the door.
"Really?" She whirled around to stare at him, perplexed.
"Yeah. I thought for sure you would." He typed in the code to lock the door.
"Should I be offended?" She did not bother to say she was not that type of girl. She was not the type of girl to find herself at the pinnacle of a love triangle either, but here she is. "Do you think so little of me?"
"No. That's not it at all. We're all adults here."
"Wouldn't you have been jealous?"
"Hell yeah I would have," he admitted, jogging up the set of stairs ahead of her. "But it's going to happen at some point."
"Yeah. But I'm still a little confused," she said, clutching her towel tighter. "I don't know what we're doing here. I don't know how this kind of relationship is supposed to work."
"It's new territory for all of us. Besides, we've all admitted how we feel about each other."
"Yeah, but - "
" We'll figure it out as we go."
"So when we do decide to..." Takara hesitated, feeling the discomforting warmth of humiliation spreading over her face and down her neck. Grown up indeed. She could not bring herself to say the phrases make love or have sex.
"We'll figure it out as we go," he repeated, rushing ahead. "Hurry up, fat ass. You're slow."
"Asshole," she muttered under her breath.
"I heard that," he yelled down to her from the flight above.
"I don't care," she pouted. "Besides, I'm curvaceous. Not fat."
"You're not wrong. I like your curves."
"Hmph," she snorted, still pouting.
Katsuki pushed open the glass door leading onto the roof and ran straight to the pool diving in without slowing down. His long muscular body cut through the water like a torpedo. Halfway across the pool the water slowed his momentum forcing him to perform the breaststroke and paddle his feet to continue moving through the water.
Takara prissily folded her towel and placed it one one of the wooden slatted lounge chairs. She waited for him to surface at the opposite end of the pool. Swinging one arm in a circle, then the other, going through the motions of warming up her muscles, she took her time to perform the motion slowly and with great flair.
"Oh, come on! Jump in!" he shouted impatiently.
Diving in, the cold water shocked her sun warmed body. It almost hurt at first then felt good against her steadily heating muscles as they worked to propel her through the freezing liquid. Opening her eyes and staying under the surface, she headed straight for Katsuki. Stopping inches in front of him, she stood up in the three foot depth, swinging her head to smack him in the face with her wet hair.
His strong arms went around her, one around her shoulders and the other under her knees. Scooping her out of the water, he tossed her across the pool where she sank like a rock.
Staying under the water, swimming back to him, Takara seized him by the ankles and jerked with all of her might. The buoyancy imparted to his heavy, brawny body by the water enabled her to pull his legs right out from under him and plunge him under the surface with her.
They were both looking at each other under the water, bubbles swirling around them. It was as if both were waiting for the other to make the first move. Rather than foolishly tussling under the water, they stood up so they could breathe.
Strong hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled her forward. Barely able to suck in a breath, his mouth covered hers for a kiss. Not wanting to break the kiss, but desperate for air, she shoved him away from her. As she panted for air, her mouth hanging open, she stared at him as he did the same thing.
"You're crazy," she accused him.
"So are you," he retorted. "You're my kind of crazy. That's why I like you."
"Gee, thanks." She could not stop herself from smiling but splashed water in his face to hide it.
His hair was plastered flat to his head only for a moment before he ran his fingers through it, shaking his head to throw off the excess water. Amazingly, the blond spikes instantly stood straight back up as if they had never been flattened at all.
"Ready to swim those laps?" he asked, wiping the water out of his eyes.
"Yeah. Let's go." She turned and slammed her cupped hand down into the water to give herself a head start. "Race ya! Loser cooks dinner on Sunday!"
"Hey! You little sh-"
Takara did not hear the rest. She was too busy slicing through the water with her hands and madly kicking her feet. She wanted to win this to taste an entire meal cooked by Chef Katsuki.
After swimming laps until her muscles began to tighten and threaten to cramp she slid to a stop, her flattened palm bumping into the cement edge of the shallow end. Once again, panting like a dog, she heard Katsuki splashing behind her before he coasted in to stand up beside her.
"Did I win?" she panted.
"Yeah, you won," he growled, grudgingly admitting defeat.
"Woohoo!" she shrieked, shaking her fists in the air triumphantly.
"Since I'm cooking, I get to choose the meal."
"Okay."
Katsuki glanced at his watch. "You're going to be late."
"What time is it?"
"Eleven."
"Oh, shit!" Takara exclaimed, launching into full panic mode.
"I guess this means I can't take a shower with you," he hollered after her as she grabbed her towel while sprinting toward the door.
"Not today. I want to take my time to enjoy that. You are driving me to the conservatory though," she reminded him, rushing away.
Katsuki watched her run down the hallway through glass wall surrounding the pool. He smiled.
"Not today, huh?" he chuckled to himself as he hauled his body out of the pool.
After her shower and hastily dressing in a long flowery skirt and pink tank top, Takara went next door. With make up bag and sandals in one hand, her cello handle in the other, she raised her bare foot to poke the code into the numeric pad with her big toe. Katsuki would have been impressed with her agility and physical prowess.
She let herself into their apartment, placing her cello and shoes by the door before rushing to the counter to put down her make up bag before she dropped it on the floor and broke everything. She could hear the shower running.
"Katsuki!" she bellowed. "I need to go! I'm gonna be late!"
"Yeah, yeah," he shot back, turning off the water.
Takara sat down at the counter to begin applying her make up. She still had the towel wrapped around her hair to soak up excess water.
"What are you worrying about that crap for? You're beautiful without it," Katsuki complimented her, appearing behind her in her make up mirror.
"Thanks. You're sweet," she returned but continued applying the concealer to hide the dark circles under her eyes. "But I need a little help today."
Katsuki went to the refrigerator and opened it, rattling glass containers and crinkling plastic ones. She stared in disbelief at his lower half wrapped in a towel poking out of the fridge.
"What are you doing?"
"You need to eat and drink something. Here," he said, putting a bottle of blue sports drink and a sandwich on the counter in front of her. "I made these sandwiches for my lunch. I'll share."
"Oh, you really are sweet," she returned with gratitude, grabbing half of the sandwich that had been cut into two triangles. Roast beef and provolone cheese with lots of creamy horseradish mayo. No lettuce, no tomatoes, no nonsense. "Ugh...my god that's good."
"Who says the only way to a man heart is through his stomach. It seems to work pretty good on you too," he teased, cramming half of his sandwich in his mouth.
"Swimming stirs up an appetite. Everyone knows that," she said, taking another bite. "I'm looking forward to Sunday."
"I bet."
"Any idea what you're cooking?"
"No. You'll find out then. Be patient."
"Hah! You telling someone to be patient. That's funny," she remarked sarcastically with a full mouth. After chewing and swallowing she said, "But seriously, I need to go. I can't be late."
"I'm sure Maestro won't mind."
"He won't...but everyone else will. They already think I'm the teacher's pet, so to speak, anyway."
"They're just jealous," he assured her, walking back around the counter to stand beside her.
"Maybe so. But they don't mind making my life hell when they can."
Katsuki kissed her forehead. "I'll get you there on time."
Takara leaned back on the bar stool watching him walk away down the hall to his room. He had to know she was watching him as he stripped off the towel from around his waist. His bare behind was tight and round and lily white in comparison to his tanned legs and back.
"Oh, my," she giggled, straightening up before she fell off the bar stool.
Looking back in her mirror, her red face prompted her to hurry up and apply her make up to hide her embarrassment. She had removed the towel from her hair which hung down her back in long damp spirals. By the time he returned, fully dressed and ready to go, she had finished gathering her wits and painting her face.
"Let's go, Mi Cara," he said, gently pulling on her arm to urge her to the door.
A different kind of warmth covered from head to toe. It pleased her to hear him call her that. My dear one. To be called his dear one warmed her straight through to her soul.
Katsuki carried her cello downstairs for her and loaded it into the back of her little black SUV. He stayed quiet on the drive to the conservatory, concentrating on the road and vehicles around him to get her there quickly but safely.
"You can just drop me off," she said as he pulled up to the curb and shut off the vehicle. "Pop the back, and I'll grab my cello."
"No. I'll walk you in," he insisted, pressing the release button to open that back before getting out to walk around.
Takara grinned like an idiot after turning her back to him to get out so he would not see. His thoughtfulness and kindness made her adore him. At times, he made it so easy to fall for him. At others, he seemed to want to push her away. Out of self-defense or simply a bad habit, she had no idea but she had made her mind up to love him - all of him - no matter what.
"Hey! You can't park here!" a police officer yelled at him when they were almost to the door.
"Gimme just a minute!" Katsuki bellowed angrily.
"Kacchan," she said, surprising him by using the nickname Izuku used for him. Raising up on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to his lips. "Go. I can take it from here. Thank you. For everything."
"You don't have to be so damn grateful all the time. It's annoying," he grumbled, blushing every so lightly.
That blush made him look so damn cute. Takara smiled at him, giving him another peck on the lips. "I love you, you idiot. How's that?"
Before he could respond, she grabbed her cello and took off. She felt elated, happy, as if she were walking on air. They didn't know what they were doing, but they seemed to be doing something right in this unusual relationship.
