Kirishima is pining. He is pining hard.
He has had crushes before. He knows what it's like to feel jittery and nervous around someone. Though, what he is feeling now seems to be stronger and much more than that.
Whenever his eyes would meet Bakugou's, his chest would constrict itself in a tight manner and a wave of butterflies would pass in his stomach. With every fist bump and small amounts of physical touch, his heart rate would inevitably rise.
He knows that it's all fruitless. There's no way his friend would feel the same way. Bakugou does not seem the type to be into romance and relationships. And even if the blond is interested, there is little chance he would even be considered as an option.
So, he was simply content with just being Bakugou's friend. His status as the explosive blond's best friend is something he takes pride in and he would not want to risk them all for something as superficial as feelings.
"What's wrong, bro?" They were currently playing video games in Kirishima's room. His friend was acting strange today.
"Go out with me tomorrow." Bakugou said suddenly as he turned to face him. Almost immediately, Bakugou's body froze up and his face flushed red.
"Sure." Kirishima answered with a smile. "Want to go to the movies? There's this new Crimson Riot movie I want to watch with you."
" 'Wouldn't have asked if I wasn't planning to." Bakugou looked away, pink still tainting his cheeks for reasons he can't comprehend. Bakugou never really reacted that way before when asking him to hang out, even back when inviting him to I-Island as a plus one.
"Awesome! I can't wait for tomorrow." He punched Bakugou's shoulder lightly.
"Whatever." Bakugou grunted in return, though in a softer tone than what he was used to. "Just don't be late tomorrow."
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"Your hair doesn't look as shitty today." The redhead looked up from his shameless staring of his crush.
"Thanks, man." Kirishima grinned, a hand reaching to brush some strands not held by his ponytail. "You look as manly as always."
"We'll be fucking late to the movie." Surprisingly, there was a hand reaching up and grasping his.
His mind short circulated at the sudden action. He opened his mouth to question the blond, but the grip on his hand tightened as if it's silently begging him not to say anything.
With an equally flustered face, he complied with his friend's silent request and shyly intertwined the hand that was holding his.
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"And then he was so manly in that last scene, Bakugou!" They had just exited the cinema and he was still filled with adrenaline from seeing Crimson Riot.
"I know. You were fanboying really hard back there." Bakugou teased playfully.
"Hey, I wasn't-" He could not even complete the retort he wanted to say as the sound of a rumbling stomach filled the air.
The sound which was his own and his face quickly burned red.
He kept his attention to the pair of flaming red crocs he was wearing, and he realized that he wanted to die. Kirishima never wished to bury himself in a hole as much as he did now.
This was so embarrassing. So unmanly.
Then there was the sound of laughter and he looked up to see the blond laughing. It was a familiar sight much like how the blond had laughed in a study session they had in the library before.
Frantically, in his flustered frenzy, he tried to get Bakugou to stop because people are starting to stare and he was sure he would combust with how red his face was getting.
His friend eventually relented and they stopped over to the nearby restaurant they frequent in the past. As expected, the blond ordered the spiciest thing in the menu. It was an action that was so Bakugou that he couldn't help but grin.
After he had ordered, they sat on a vacant table and conversation flows between them. Kirishima started talking his friend's ear off on things like 'Kaminari showed me this really funny video' to 'I have this new idea for a move'. All the while, as he chattered away, he noticed that his friend was unusually quiet aside from a snarky comment or two.
And then he noticed it—The look Bakugou was giving him. It was soft and unlike anything he has seen before. It was an expression that had sent his heart into an overdrive and it was directed at him.
The familiar sensation of butterflies etched themselves once again. Only this time, it was worse and he was only saved when the food came for him to use as a way to ease them.
It was working until a hand was suddenly snaking its way to his face.
"You got something on your face." Bakugou was wiping his face with a paper towel.
"T-Thanks." He muttered out and his face went as red as his hair. His crush was being so close to his face. His heart was beating wildly against his chest.
Bakugou merely retreated back to his own seat and they resumed their eating in awkward silence. He looked up to see the same redness in the tips of his friend's ears.
When they were done with their meal, the blond wouldn't even let him pay for his own share which was weird because Bakugou never cared about those things before. In the past, they would each pay for their own share and the blond wouldn't even bat an eye.
What exactly makes today different?
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"I had fun today, Bakugou." Kirishima smiled up to his friend when they arrived back to the dorm. "I mean I always have fun when I'm with you, but I had even more fun today."
"I did too." Bakugou's admission was soft and the blond was looking away all flustered again.
There was a beat of silence and then he could feel lips being pressed on his forehead.
And then…
"Did you just kiss my forehead?"
"What else did you expect from a date, idiot?" Bakugou responded, starting to resemble a tomato with his flushed face.
"Date? Oh, cool we're on a date." Kirishima blinked before the blond's words registered to him. "Wait, we're on a date?!"
"Ain't that obvious?!" The blush on Bakugou's face was replaced with rage he was all too familiar with.
Well, guess it's all over. Life has been fun.
At least he gets to die knowing how Bakugou's lips feel against his head.
"Dude, you never said anything like that!"
"I fucking did! I asked you yesterday and you said 'sure' with your stupid fucking grin that I want to kiss so freaking badly!" Bakugou was stepping closer and closer to his personal space. Only an inch separated them and Kirishima could hardly breathe.
"W-W-What did you just say?" Kirishima stuttered out with a face darker than his hair.
"I forgot that you're such a dumbass."
A pair of lips captured his own before he could even begin to speak.
This was a moment he had envisioned so many times, yet they still pale so badly to the real experience. It was obvious that they were both not really experts in kissing as their kiss was clumsy and his sharp teeth might have bumped into the other's teeth awkwardly. It's rough yet comforting at the same time.
"That's what I meant." Bakugou stepped back, and Kirishima could finally breathe as there was now a respectable distance between them.
"That was so manly, Bakugou!" Kirishima smiled widely. "So, we're boyfriends now?"
"We just kissed and you're asking me this?" Bakugou chided with a scoff.
"O-Oh! That's good to know."
"Kirishima."
"Yeah?"
"Go out with me next Saturday." Bakugou suggested, seemingly stiffed in a nervous manner. "And as fucking boyfriends this time."
He didn't say anything and simply answered the blond's suggestion with a peck on his cheek and a giant grin.
"Of course! Bakugou, I'll be more than happy to go on a date with you!"
And he meant it with his whole heart.
He can hardly wait for next Saturday.