Hope you liked Part 1 and enjoy Part 2!


"SURPRISE!" The lights turned on and the entrance was brightened and greeted by the exciting shouts of their friends. Streamers flew out from above him, some created by Momo's quirk and others from small party streamer pockets that shot out at Kirishima and the boy's arrival. Everyone had gathered at the front to surprise him as he was told, and Sato was new in the very middle holding out a cake in front of him while all the others held confetti poppers and were wearing coned-birthday hats. Kirishima looked at the scene stunned and surprised, though already knowing about the big surprise, he didn't have any more words to describe how bashful he felt.

It had been many hours since Kirishima, along with Kaminari and Sero left Bakugou after seeing him on a supposed date with a girl he was meeting. They grabbed a bite to eat elsewhere far from them, even as his friends tried to ask him what was wrong, Kirishima refused to answer them honestly and only a passive smile saying that he was just tired. Neither Sero nor Kaminari pushed him further on the matter, and after eating they met up with the group before returning to the van with their teacher waiting for them.

They left the mall and the group travelled all over town. From catching the premier opening to the new "Fast and Furious" movie, eating at a grilled BBQ cuisine, and a surprise appearance from Fat Gum who joined them, the day was more than exciting. Kirishima had fun enjoying time with his friends, however, a doubt clouded him. In the back of his mind, he couldn't stop remembering Bakugou. At some points, it made his smile slip and almost hard for him to focus on the day and not seem like he wasn't enjoying it. Time flew by before he knew it, and the evening came when they reached school again. Walking up the hill, he had almost forgotten about the surprise Kamianri slipped up to keep secret. It was almost like another wake-up call, and all of his classmates waiting for him as they entered the dorm.

"Thank guys," Kirishima said shyly, though still feeling down, composed himself with a half-hearted smile while scratching behind his head. "This means a lot, but you didn't haft to do this."

"No way is our manliest friend spending his birthday without us celebrating." Sato's voice spoke from behind the gathering of friends, a wide smile plastered and full of pride across his face as he carried up a large plate. On it was a large rectangular sponge cake, too big to carry (at least not to Sato) with white frosting covering it all over and strawberries decorating the rim and edges. Different coloured swirl candles gathered in the middle around a small dark chocolate plaque with thin white icing that read, "Happy Birthday Kirishima".

Kirishima looked down at the cake in awe, his chest fluttered and cheeks flared. "You guys didn't haft to do this." He mumbled again, almost embarrassed.

"It's the least we could do given the short notice," Ochacho commented suddenly, being one of the first people in front to surprise Kirishima. "We wanted to invite a few more guests, but Aizawa said Eri would come later, same with Tamaki-senpai. He said he had exams to study but will swing by when he can with Mirio and Nejire-san."

'…And what about Bakugou?' Kirishima wanted to ask but kept his urge in and instead flashed a small smile while he nodded. "It's alright, everything today and now has been more than enough I could ask for. You all are the best." He told her this, mostly directing his voice for everyone to hear, though his eyes trying to shine, dimmed their charming light. Scanning through the group, he saw Bakugou wasn't there and was almost relieved. Kirishima wasn't sure how he would've approached him without looking hurt or crying. Does this mean he was still with that girl? Were they really on a date? Is Bakugou cheating on me? Thinking these thoughts, Kirishima felt a sting in his chest, but this only made him force his smile more to hide it.

"Well, are we gonna let this night go to waste?" Haru shouted. Her body, which was of her usual pink hoodie and long socks, jumped beside Mina playfully. Mina smiled and they both shouted in unison, their arms punching the air, "Everyone, one! Two! Three!—"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRISHIMA!" All of 1A sang this in the chorus as they released another round of popping confetti and loud cheers. Kirishima could feel the urge to tear upwelling in his eyes. His mouth widened into a toothy smile that reached both ears and the thoughts of Katsuki subsided in the subconscious. No, I told himself, slightly shaking his head as they started the festivities. It was his birthday, so he shouldn't let this issue bother him now. Today wasn't going to be ruined, especially with all of his friends around to celebrate with him. He wasn't going to waste what they have planned to be ruined by his depressed mood. He needed to focus back on the party and where it mattered, right now. So holding onto this idea and flashing his usual shark-tooth smile, he quickly perked up and joined everyone.

The cake was soon cut to Kirishima and presents from all his friends were given and shared around. Soon Eri, the Big Three, and class 1B students including Tetsu-Tetsu, Shinjiro, and even his mentor Fat-Gum, arrived to surprise him with gifts and joined the celebration. The hours flew by into the evening without anyone noticing, and Kirishima was having a fun time, better even than the day he had earlier. However, every once in a while his eyes would drift off and search through the room for Bakugou to appear. As much as he tried to brush the thought of him away and focus on the party, he felt his mind grow heavy with the thoughts weighing on him and it became a struggle to hold his smile.

When finally couldn't hold the urge for space to himself, in the middle of party games as most of his friends were distracted playing Pin-A-Smile-on-All-Might, Kirishima excused himself away to the bathroom, but silently slipped away to the front door when he was sure no one was looking.

Stepping out onto the dorm porch, keeping away from the windows view, Kirishima walked to the stairs and sat on the edge of the top as he hung his head back and looked up towards the night sky. It had gotten darker than when he had arrived last, though most of the dorm lights and lampposts outside were still actively bright as the city down the hill, Kirishima could spot small stars shining dimly in the night sky. As he breathed in the cool night air expelling through his nostrils, exhaling a sigh, his mind lost its weight and was at peace. Then his mind though calming, was now filling with thoughts of Katsuki. 'I wonder where he is right now?' He thought, looking longingly at the sky.

Although he was the last person he wanted to think about, Kirishima couldn't deny to himself that what happened today made him very afraid. From the moment they became friends, Kirishima knew that his feelings towards the brute were more intimate than what he felt for anyone else in their class. He thought that Bakugou wouldn't have felt the same way, but in the end, after accidentally confessing to him, their whole relationship suddenly changed. There was no explained reason why Bakugou wanted them to date and was never seemed committed or devoted to putting in the effort when they spent time together. Even now, there was no difference between how they are now and how they were when they were just bros. Did that mean their relationship is just not special?

'Was it all just out of pity? Did he feel like he had to?' Kirishima's sight went blurry as tears started to rise and make small paths down his cheek.

"Kirishima?" Startled as Kirishima turned his head around, he saw Deku lingering at the door, closing it softly as the commotion from inside faded back into silence. Unknowingly to Kirishima, he saw him sneaking out of the dorm and noticed an upsetting expression across his face. He wanted to check on him to see if he was okay but didn't expect to find his friend crying in tears. "Are you alright?" Deku asked with a careful approach.

"Yeah, yeah!— I'm good." Kirishima said this, wiping away the small tear in his eyes before he perked his smile up forcefully. His mind although relaying that he didn't want to discuss this with anyone, didn't want them to see him crying as a man. "Just got stuff on my mind is all." He added this, trying to sound assuring, though it didn't.

Deku looked carefully at his friend, recognising the painfully forced smile that was almost similar to his own. Paying closer attention to his features, Deku could tell that Kirishima was holding his emotions back from showing, and began to realise that he'd been holding it in place since he had gotten back from his day out. Approaching Kirishima's side, he sat down on the step next to Kirishima, making sure to leave a gap between them for space. Taking in a breath, Deku then asked quietly, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Kirishima felt themselves slowly slip out of their charade, as much as he wanted to deny that there was anything wrong or upsetting him, the look of his friend's gaze caught him in a trance that forbid him. The freckled face boy looked into him patiently, his eyes as well as his words held deep concern. He didn't want to let his friends worry, Kirishima felt the urge to spill everything out as it hung deep in his throat. His mouth opened, but closed again, not sure what to say or how to ask before his gaze fell to the steps under his feet.

He took a breath in and slowly exhaled through his nose. "When… When did you and Bakugou stop being friends?" Kirishima's voice was flat as the gave up the effort to act enthusiastic and his forced smile vanished. His eyes looked at the ground upsettingly as though he just accepted defeat.

Deku was almost baffled by the sudden question but contained his nervousness seeing the change in his friend's demeanour. "Um— Can I ask why you're asking?" He asked, unsure of how to answer.

"It's just…" Kirishima hesitated for a moment as he didn't know how to word their relationship. So instead he carefully implied, "We have this thing going on with us," He took a glance at Deku, expecting to see a change. However, he only looked at him with full attention, though seemed a little taken back, simply nodded in understanding and urged him to continue.

Kirishima exhaled again, "In the last few days, he hasn't been acting like himself. He's more distant than usual and he doesn't seem to want to talk about anything to me, even though, I guess it's more that he trying to. I thought it was weird, but I kept telling myself, ' I'm just overthinking this, and I should just let him be.'" He paused before his next words almost shook unsteadily. "Until I… I caught him today. While at the mall earlier, we saw him going out with someone, even though he told me he was going to spend time with his folks. It was a girl and it seemed he was on a date with her. I don't know what I should make of it, and I can't understand why he would've needed to lie. Lie to me at least."

The more he tried beating around the bush, the harder it was for Kirishima to control the anguish dripping down his voice and not make it obvious. "I'm mad at him that he didn't. And I wonder if this is just his way of saying that I'm not trustworthy enough even though we've been… bros forever…"

Deku stared at Kirishima in astonishment and then thought for a moment about how he should respond. In youth, having known Bakugou as a close friend and adversary, green hair protagonist had never in their time together seen the blond adversary take an interest in romance. (Much less the girls by their names). Looking at his friend's dull expression, the boy couldn't help but feel guilty for not having a proper answer to his question and thought longingly about how he should. As the silence between them got thicker for him to keep quiet, Kirishima wondered if maybe he had said too much and considered the idea to leave and find another place to be alone.

However, before he could say anything, Deku finally answered. "I can't say that I know Kacchan all that well, but I don't think he's the kind of person to think that." He told him truthfully. "Although at times he's distant with others and wants to be stronger than everyone else, even now there's always a part of him that keeps his guard up to others, and I think it's because… he doesn't want to show feelings of vulnerability and weakness, or at least in a way that he opens up to others and act without impulse. At least, I think that's how he is." His voice died out unsurely as he finished.

Kirishima sat silent for a moment, his hands and finger clasped together tightly as he thought about Deku's words. It slowly sunk into him, and memories flashed through his eyes of all the times they spent together, he realised just how distant their relationship still is. There hasn't been a time since they met that Bakugou had ever shown emotions to others aside from his usual frown and raging glare at others. He's never seen him cry, never smile, and never blush or get embarrassed. Was it a struggle? A weakness— to express his emotions openly? Was it a struggle to do it in front of me? Kirishima thought this, his stomach turning uncomfortably and made him hug himself tightly for it to stop.

"Kirishima," The familiar bruiting voice cut through his train of thought. Kirishima looked up from the ground to see Bakugou walking towards them from the gate. He had a deep frown on his face as the light coming from the windows brightened his expression, and that's when Kirishima noticed the pink gift bag in his hand. with a red bow. 'Probably from that girl.' Kirishima thought this was another sting emitting in his chest and feeling more pain.

"Kacchan?" Next to Kirishima, Deku looked nervous fearing his rival had heard everything they were talking about and got Kirishima in trouble talking about him so freely.

A tight sensation turned inside Kirishima's stomach, it gave an uncomfortable feeling as Bakugou approached them closer before reaching the stairs and stopping in front of them. His eyes, narrowed under a creased forehead before he glared at Deku as he stared up at his childhood friend nervously. Though the two sitting down expected him to shout at Deku for weirdly looking at him, the blond only clicked his tongue before his eyes turned to Kirishima. "I need to talk to you."

Kirishima was about to comply but stopped himself short as his mind slowly backpedalled and he was reminded why he was nervous to see him. So with a forced tone, he grunted back, "Can't you see we're talking?" Next to Kirishima, Deku's eyes widened, his friend looking slightly panicked about how Bakugou would react. However, the blond brute stood stiffly but didn't seem fazed. All three were silent. Deku looked between the two with unsure glances and Kirishima held his gaze to Bakugou as a strong intensity hung thick between them. Bakugou wore an unreadable frown before his hand suddenly lunged toward him. Grasping his fingers around Kirishima's wrist, the tempered teen forced the shark-toothed boy to his feet, muttering a small "come on" and stomping up the stairs with the redhead being pulled along behind him.

"Huh— Hey!" Almost stumbling up the stairs, he reluctantly followed Bakugou as he opened the door with his free hand, letting it swing open and hit the wall with a loud bang as he pulled Kirishima inside with him. Holding his wrist tightly, Kirishima couldn't shake himself off while it hurt to try. As he and Bakugou had differences in strength, he had no choice but to helplessly follow behind with each step he had to quicken his pace and almost trip over.

"Bakugou, just wait for a—!" Kirishima's eyes darted around the room as the parading noises of the party came to a halt. Everyone's eyes were on them, and though some questioned where had Bakugou been, they were more surprised to see Kirishima with him and confused about why he was with the tempered classmate. However, no one said a word as they watched the two walk briskly through the party as they slowly parted a path for Bakugou as though he might explode like a bomb. Even Sero and Kaminari, who watched the pair pass by them felt that stepping in to help wasn't worth the risk. (Thanks for that guys T—T)

Kirishima tried to pull away from him slightly, but he couldn't resist Bakugou's constricting strength on his wrist joint which almost pained him to move. He didn't want to make this a scene or worry everyone about what they were probably thinking. As he was still pulled by Bakugou and walking towards the elevator, Kirishima awkwardly had to call back to everyone assuringly, "I'll be back soon guys! Keep the party going without me!" The smile he tried to perk up didn't feel as convincing but hoped that wouldn't matter.

"But you are the party!" Mina's voice called back to him faintly, sounding confused but mostly upset. Kirishima watched as his friends noticed Deku coming in and looking at him for answers. He looked timid as if he didn't know how to explain the situation himself or had chosen not to share.

"Bakugou, let go already!" He hisses this again out of everyone's earshot, but the blond didn't respond. As elevator doors open, he pulls Kirishima inside, turning the redhead to stand behind him before pressing the side panel buttons leading to their dorm floor. Seeing his friends still staring after them at the far end of the hallway, the elevator doors slowly close shut, leaving the two alone in the small space. His grip then seemed to loosen slightly, his back still turned and was facing the elevator doors as the Kirishima finally was able to shake his hand free.

"What's the big deal?!" Kirishima's voice exploded in a loud yell that even startled him. He passed for a moment as he realised this and added, "You didn't haft to drag me out like that!"

Bakugou was still unresponsive, his body unmoved as though he had turned into stone. Kirishima's anger faltered, feeling a little worried before he finally turned around. Bakugou's face had its usual frown, but Kirishima felt taken aback for some reason as he stared into the sharp scarlet eyes looking into him.

"I know you saw me out today," His face remained unchanged as he spoke flatly.

Kirishima's mind came to hold as the faded anger was overcome by shock. His eyes and mouth widened, and his mind froze as he was unprepared for how to react or what to say. How did he know? Did he see me, Kaminari, and Sero when we left? Kirishima's questions silently grew in his head, almost making him dizzy to ask aloud and then suddenly turned. Does this mean he knows I saw him on that date? Is he going to break up with me?

As the silence of the redhead lasted for half a minute and seeing his ghost-white face, Bakugou sighed (though sounding more like a groan) as he tilted his chin down and reached an arm over to scratch the back of his head. He wasn't sure how to explain himself, although if he knew why he was there it would have made everything easier to tell. "Listen, what you saw—"

"Yeah, I saw you! And what if I did?!" Before he continued, fearfully Kirishima's voice raised above his almost shouting in anger. "If you got tired of me, you could have just said so like a man instead of hiding the truth! I wouldn't have been mad, but…" his voice started to break, his head turned away for a moment as he held back a desperate cry. "…You could've least… told me what I did wrong," Kirishima's voice broke as he struggled to keep them from falling like the tears that streamed over his eyes but hold off forcefully.

Though Kirishima wasn't aware of his expression, Bakugou stared at him with wide eyes. Although confused at first, as his mind replayed the words Kirishima spoke, pieces started to form together, and suddenly he understood. His face was suddenly clouded and his brow deepened into a livid snarl, looking pissed as though he was being accused of murder.

"Huh? The hell?" Bakugou's mature tone was now replaced by his familiar attitude that bruited angrily as his hand grasped onto the collar of Kirishima's shirt. "What the fuck are you spewing on about. Was that what you were talking about with Deku? Did you think that for some reason I hadn't been around the last few days that I was cheating on you with someone else? Don't jump to conclusions just because you see me with some random chick!"

"Don't give me that crap!" Kirishima swatted his hand away, trying to hold a strong presence, but his voice still trembled as he tried to contain himself. "You told me that you were going to be with your parents today, yet you were alone— and on a date with that girl!"

"I WASN'T—" Bakugou roared, but was immediately cut off.

"YOU WERE!" His voice was now yelling just as loud as Bakugou's, which left him stunned to yell over him. "You've been avoiding me because you didn't want to show the fact you've been seeing someone else behind my back! You've wanted us to date, but all we have ever done was kiss and hold hands, and only act like how we used to be. Nothing is different… So was I not good enough?!"

"Why did you lie?! If she was no one special then why did you try so hard to hide the fact that you were meeting her today? Today of all days?!" Kirishima last words held strong as silence fell over them while he let out gasps of air. All the anger he built up flushed away through his tears, and in place of it came an aching pain of sorrow in his chest.

Bakugou was taken aback, baffled about how to respond. His frown lessened as he reminisced on the last few days and suddenly realised that everything he's done indeed looked bad as Kirishima said. I fucked up. His temper had died and was now conflicted as he looked with new eyes at the hurt and heartbroken face in front of him. "I—"

The sound of the elevator suddenly dinged, seizing hold of the argument as the doors opened toward an empty hallway of the dorm rooms. Kirishima quickly walked past Bakugou before he could have a chance to yell at him again, though not knowing what level they were on, he didn't care as he only wanted space to breathe. Only taking a few steps outside the door, Kirishima tried calming his breathing and wiping the blur of fighting tears that started to fall. The inside of his heart ached with the pounding of anger mixed with misery, that had built inside his chest until now it had burst into a fit of tears and silent heaving sobs he failed to keep inaudible with a clenched fist over his mouth.

He heard Bakugou leave the elevator and the doors closing behind them. Silence remained between the two and Kirishima could feel the same thick tension between them elevator that made the silence unbearably worse. The hallway was dim, but as he lifted his head slightly, he caught sight of one of the room's name tags. Shoji. He realised that they were on the fourth floor, next to both his and Bakugou's rooms.

I need to cool my head, Kirishima thought. As he was about to start walking away towards his dorm room, he heard Bakugou begin walking from behind him. His head looked down, not wanting to see his face. Just as he was about to break out in a sprint, he was immediately stopped by Bakugou who suddenly appeared a step in front of him and dismissed his chance.

Their eyes met by chance, his own was puffy and red from the dryness of his tears while Bakugou's were dull yet darkened by the hallway light. Kirishima's last thoughts were final and were admitted on going to his room, and just as he was about to shove the brute aside, he saw Bakugou's arm pulling up from his side and slowly raising to a mid-length between them until it seemed as though his hand was reaching out towards Kirishima.

Bakugou then said in a calm levelled tone, "Close your eyes and hold my hand."

Huh? Kirishima blinked, looking up from the floor, he turned his head to Bakugou. "What?"

Still holding his hand out, Bakugou replied, "If you aren't going to let me explain, then at least let me show you."

Kirishima looked between him and back to his hand again. Although hesitant about the idea and content on denying his request, looking into his eyes he'd never seen Bakugou look at him with sincerity or speak in a calming and collected tone that it almost seemed as though he were another person. Kirishima knew then that what he was saying was true, and the answers he was looking for rested between them and where he planned to lead him. He swallowed, slowly placing his hand in Bakugou's before his eyes closed and shut tight.

He felt himself being pulled softly by Bakugou as they walked down the hall. Taking each step carefully, feeling nervous about having no clue where he was going, Kirishima tried to focus his sentence on the hand guiding him as he squeezed it tightly, and it returned as if assuring him. As much as Kirishima wanted to open his eyes to see where they were going, he reasoned with himself that sneezing Bakugou's favour was an unmanly action.

Shortly after they stopped, Kirishima could hear the sound of a door opening before Bakugou proceed to lead him inside the unknown room. Kirishima counted six steps in, Bakugou halted again this time letting go of his hand and feeling him lightly touching the side of both arms. Still keeping his eyes closed, he felt himself being angled til his body was facing a quarter to the left of where he stood.

Feeling the hands leave his sides, Kirishima now stood. He didn't hear Bakugou speak, but he kept his eyes shut while patiently waiting. Even when his ears caught the sound of shuffling and other movements from both in front and behind, Kirishima stood still and kept his eyes glued together until all was quiet again. Waiting still, a few moments passed before he finally heard Bakugou's voice again. "You can open them." His voice spoke faintly, and Kirishima reckoned that he was standing in front of him.

As Kirishima's eyes slowly opened, he was welcomed by dim candlelight and became mesmerised by what he saw. They had walked into Bakugou's room and all the lights had still been switched off like no one had been in there since this morning. However, as Kirishima stood in front of Katsuki's desk was a small cupcake, kept in a red wrapping, and topped with white icing with a single red candle in the middle. Kirishima stared at the cake mesmerised as its light shone within the room's darkness but was surprised by the gesture that was planned. Was this what he was hiding from me? A cupcake? "Katsuki… what is—" He turned to the blond as he reached into his pocket. What he pulled out made Kirishima's eyes grow wider in shock. In his hands was a half-open velvet ring box, and inside, a silver ring. Encased within a soft white cushion, the silver object glistened like a jewel even with how plain and barren it appeared.

His eyes looked at Bakugou's face. Although he was evasive to Kirishima's, hints of his face were flushed from his cheeks and ears while he stood unsteadily with his posture as though not sure how to stand. "I was planning this for a few weeks," Bakugou's words drifted into Kirishima's ears, as the red hero's eyes were too distracted and awestruck to look up at him. "I didn't know what I why, but I wanted it to be something… special." The last word struggled to sound clear as he presented his gift.

Kirishima was almost speechless of words to express, though now confusion swirled within his thoughts as he couldn't realise what was happening or how the reason for Bakugou's absence and "date" ended with this. "I… don't understand." He spoke in a small voice.

"I wasn't cheating on you. The girl you saw me with today was from the Support Course, a friend of that pink-hair chick from the festival. " Bakugou's words slowly, his eyes looking at him through the kindle candlelight. "She had a quirk for light illusions that helped design support gear, and I asked her to make some adjustments to the ring's engraving. I was meeting up with her to pick it up." He looked back, pointing his finger to the box.

Kirishima's eyes looked back down to the ring, using his thumb and index fingers, he picked up the silver hoop with care. He turned it on multiple angles trying to spot the engraving Bakugou mentioned, but as he inspected the ring's outer and inner rim, he saw none there. However, as the candle's light started to dim and the room turned into darkness, with Bakugou not attempting to save it, Kirishima's eyes quickly and he was surprised. Within the inner ring, he finally uncovered the engraving, its words letting off a green hinted glow as the words written inside slowly revealed themselves. Eijiro x Katsuki.

It's only partial without light and can only be seen in the dark. Kirishima slowly started to understand, the girl he was meeting had a neon-like quirk and with the engraving on this ring, he wanted it to conceal the writing so that no one could see it but me. He wanted to surprise me with this ring. Kirishima felt his chest tighten as his heartbeat became heavy, however, he then shook it off as he thought some more, not seeming too convinced. But that doesn't mean he didn't go on a date with her, so why—

"I was meeting up with her to pick it up and offered to buy her lunch as thanks," As if knowing what he was going to say, Bakugou continued before Kirishima could ask. "Believe me, she made it clear to me that she already had a boyfriend and already knew who you were when she looked at the names." He paused for a moment as he let out a low sigh, looking down for a moment before back to Kirishima. "Did you honestly think that I would stoop so low as cheating? Do you think I'm that shallow of a person even when we're already going out?" His eyes looked narrowed to the side as his frown slowly returned looking hurt.

Was he angry? Kirishima, seeing Bakugou's face, felt a sting of guilt as he realised what he had done. How he treated him when he walked through the door, yelling at him before he could explain and believing the worse of him when it was for all this. "I'm sorry… I was scared," Kirishima's voice suddenly rose to a high shout, which surprised him more than Bakugou. He looked down the floor and away from the other's gaze, holding in the urge to cry as he calmed his breathing and continued with a trembling voice. "I didn't know. I realise that I should've trusted you. It's just you had been so distant from me lately that I thought you— you got tired of me…" He paused, steadily inhaling a breath. "I was scared that you moved on because I was too much or too boring, or that I wasn't good enough to be with you. I know I was in over my head and so unmanly— OW!" Kirishima's words were suddenly cut off by a hard way on the head delivered by Bakugou.

"Idiot! As if I would ever think that you weren't good enough for me," He said this broodingly, looking at Kirishima with a ticked-off glare.

Bakugou then let out a godly sigh, his head hanging back. His eyes fell on Kirishima, though instead of wearing a glare or any sort of frown, his eyes softened, looking evasively as though hesitant of what to say. "… I know I ain't good with feelings and shit," he then said slowly. "Especially when it comes to you because you're always jumping the gun and making assumptions. You're loud, always getting in my face with that shark smile that drives me mad when I can't get enough of you. With you… there isn't anyone else who is as confident to be open and make others feel vulnerable. It sometimes freaks me out, and I wouldn't know how to control myself or the pounding in my head and chest."

He paused, stepping closer as the gap between them shortened. Kirishima felt nervous for a moment but almost jumped as he felt Bakugou's hand slip into his, their fingers suddenly laced and entwine as the atmosphere began to shift. "Honestly, it's because of you that I tried so hard to go through all this so I could make today special. Although I wouldn't have given a crap about stuff like this, I didn't do it because I felt obligated to do it as your boyfriend, but it's because I…" his words slowly faded into silence.

Though Bakugou's eyes looked away, the slight lushing in his cheeks made Kirishima's heart flutter. Because…? Moments turned to seconds and seconds almost seemed like a lifetime had passed, but the feeling in Kirishima's chest continued to swell up and soar like bubbles. The pouring of his heart drummed against his ears and his eyes never left Katsuki's face as he felt the tension between them rise. Bakugou didn't look back to Kirishima, but he too could feel the rift between them and he slowly gathered himself.

"…I like you." His words spoke in a mumble but sounded clear in the silence of the room.

Time stopped in that one moment as the silence rang with the rhythmic symphony that soothed the atmosphere of the room. Every emotion in his stomach swirled and his chest lightened. Relief. Happiness. Love. Joy. As much as he wanted to pick one Kirishima couldn't decide. Overwhelmed, he decided, yet he still felt like it was an understatement though he couldn't put the feeling similar to anything else.

"Really?" Kirishima asked, his voice in a whisper.

Bakugou in eyes looked up, staring into Kirishima's wondrous gaze. His heart gave palpitations that sent the ends of his hair on edge and made him antsy. "…More than you'll ever know," he murmured in reply as he felt the back of his nape and ears burning red. "And I…. I'm not ready to say more than that. Sorry if I can't—"

He felt his air being cut off as Kirishima's body was suddenly flung onto him, his arms wrapping around his neck and leaning into his shoulder his head right next to his ear and muffled into his neck. Bakugou stood stiff as stone, his hands hovering in the air to their side as he was taken aback.

"…I like you too, Katsuki," He heard Kirishima murmur this against his neck, his breath brushing against his ear. "This is enough." Upon hearing those words, Bakugou's chest swam with a warm feeling as he finally decided to lower his arms and wrap them around Kirishima's shoulders and back. Holding each other in a tight bond, Kirishima's mind floated as though the two were above the clouds and in their world. Although soon they had to return downstairs to the party and clear things up with the others with some made-up story, at the moment it was only themselves and each other.

And he knew Bakugou felt the same way. Though he would not have admitted it aloud or said it in words, as his embrace grew tighter, he suddenly heard him whisper in Kirishima's ear softly, "Happy Birthday, Eijiro."


0000ooo-A Few Days Later-ooo0000

The start of a new week began, with the sun high above the UA high school as Kirishima walked through the halls. Entering class 1A, he was greeted by his classmates, While waving back to them, they noticed the bright grin across his face as he sat down on his desk. Though no one questioned his cheery mood, they all wondered what had brightened him with curiosity. Little did they know, Kirishima's thoughts were elsewhere, whilst filled with the memories of the weekend that already passed.

Kirishima's gaze laid on the stature for a while as he reminisced about their weekend, and especially, back to the night of his birthday. After they broke from their embrace, they spent the time talking together about how they wanted to proceed with their relationship. Bakugou had planned for the next day that they would go on a date, and Kirishima of course was more than happier to say yes.

Sometime after, they returned to the party downstairs, and although the others eagerly asked if everything was alright, Kirishima simply held a genuine smile that left the rest of the night forgetting about their sudden outburst. However, none seemed to worry or question the pair too profusely, since they knew both Bakugou and Kirishima's relationship was solid and very close to each other. They couldn't have been anymore close to the truth. The party went on til late in the night (until finally, Aizawa put his foot down for all to go to bed), but the next day, both he and Bakugou woke up in the morning just before dawn and left campus for their first official date.

They went out for breakfast and soon went to see the new hero movie documentary of All Might that was released, then went to an arcade in the city and later on went to the zoo while seeing the new tiger exhibit. Their entire day, Bakugou had always looked his way, making sure that he was happy and well while also enjoying the day himself knowing it was what he wanted. Though that was true and it wasn't as an eventful day as it had been with his friends, Kirishima didn't mind one bit and was more than happy enough just to spend this time with Bakugou and share these moments with him that he could look back on.

His eyes fell down to his shirt and making sure that no one else saw, he undid the top button of his shirt and took out the ring he was gifted while it hung off a silver chain. Bakugou who had given it to him sometime during their date told him that it was safer to wear so it wouldn't get damaged when in Hero Training. Though he knew that wasn't the only reason, Kirishima gladly complied. He turned to Bakugou, who as usual slumped in his seat with his back turned to him with both feet on the table and his hands resting behind his head. Kirishima leaned on his elbow, holding his cheek in his hand while he stared at him longly with his other hand fidgeting with the ring playfully. He knew that no matter how he wore the ring and because it was from Bakugou, he was always reminded how much he really did care and treated it as if it were the most valuable piece of treasure in the world.

"Morning Kirishima," Stealing him away from his thoughts, he heard the voice of Kaminari called as he and Sero entered the classroom together. As they approached, Kirishima casually tucked in the chain and ring beneath his shirt's collar. However, it was already too late to hide it, as Kaminari made it the first thing to bring up. "What you got there? A ring?" He seated himself in front of Kirishima's desk while facing his body towards him while leaning against the chair's back. For a moment, Kirishima said nothing. Though a little nervous about how he should answer, he just simply smiled and replied, "Just a present I got for my birthday."

His soft and pleasant expression caught Sero's interest as he hadn't seen him at all yesterday and his friend seemed no longer sad. He could remember very vividly what happened the few days before at the mall and wondered if Bakugou had something to do with it. The night before at the party made him curious about it too, and he started to question whether the ring was given as a gift by him. He leaned into the conversation as well, rudely interrupting Kaminari as he was about to ask more about the ring. "You seem to be happy? Did you work things out with you-know-who?" he asked, he looked at Kirishima before his eyes motioning to the left towards Bakugou.

"Huh? Who?" Kaminari looked between him and Kirishima, not seeing Sero's eyes, looking around and over his shoulder to the front of the class, but failed to know who he was talking about. Beside him, Sero gave a massive eye roll. Kirishima looked at him nervously hearing his question, but not so that he didn't want to answer in fear. "Yeah it is," he told him honestly, as a small grin crept onto his face and felt his cheeks start becoming warm. He slowly reached into his shirt again, took it out and looked at it longly as his friends saw. "And….It's one of the best gifts I could've ever asked for."

Sero and Kaminari stared at him for a moment, one confused while the other was glad. Turning to each other they both could recognise how their manly redhead bro was once again his usual self, if not better, and knew that neither of them had to worry about Kirishima anymore.

Just then, their teacher Aizawa enters the classroom to call attendance. As his friends left for their seats, Kirishima's eyes glanced in Bakugou's direction, who though still facing the front, had heard their conversation. His head was turned on an angle, his eyes looked at him with a passive glance before looking back to the front. However, Kirishima could tell that he heard every word that they said, and his smile grew wider while secretly the blonde also had a flushed beneath a smug grin.


Sorry if the last part seems a bit rushed. Only just finished it today and was making a few final edits.

Pls, excuse me again for not getting this done when it first started. Hopefully soon (at least in 2023) I will have more time to write now that I am planning my future after graduation.

Have a good one! Happy Birthday, Kirishima~!