As Izuku came off the field he spotted Katsuki waiting for him. Izuku smiled in his direction and picked up his pace slightly. "Good job on making it this far nerd. Don't disappoint me got it? There's only one person I want to fight in the finals and that's you." Katsuki said, eyeing up Izuku's newest injuries. "And go get yourself checked over or whatever. Won't count if I beat you like this."
Izuku sighed and walked past Katsuki. It was rare to get any sort of direct praise from Katsuki. "Don't worry Kacchan I'll go get myself taken care of. I'll see you in the finals!" He said as he lightly punched Katsuki in the shoulder.
"So are you two kissing back here or…?" Came the amused voice of Shinsou. Izuku turned red and covered his face with his arms.
"S-shinsou!" was all Izuku could manage. Katsuki's previously somewhat soft face had returned to his typical scowl as he stared down Shinsou. Shinsou held Katsuki's gaze with a large, cheeky smile on his face.
"Fucking whatever! Don't lose next round Deku!" Katsuki said as he stopped off in the direction of the rest of his class.
Shinsou came over to Izuku and gently pat him on the back. "Sorry. I couldn't pass up the prime opportunity to tease him." Shinsou explained.
"I thought he was going to kill you for real that time. Minimal witnesses… due cause in his mind." Came Izuku's muffled reply.
Shinsou laughed. "Anyway congrats on the win. Didn't look like you were going to pull through there but you did. Showed class 1-a a thing or two."
Izuku slowly unwrapped his arms from around his head. "Y-yeah. But I'm more happy about being able to help Todoroki than winning. At least this way I got to help him and make sure Kacchan doesn't get mad at me for losing." He chuckled softly. "I'm heading over to Recovery Girl's office to get myself looked over. I'm not sure if I'll see you before my next match starts." Izuku said, turning to Shinsou.
Shinsou nodded. "I look forward to seeing you on the first place podium. See you later." Shinsou lightly bumped Izuku's shoulder as he walked off.
Izuku then hurried to Recovery Girl. As soon as he entered he endured a harsh scolding from her before she treated him. "Now you stay here till your next match young man! You kids push yourselves too far." She said before going off to do something else. Izuku sighed. He wouldn't get to watch Katsuki's next match, but he could always ask about it later. Izuku heard the sound of shifting sheets and turned to see Todoroki approaching him.
Todoroki awkwardly gestured to the bed Izuku was sitting on. "May I sit?" he asked. Izuku nodded and Todoroki sat down. After some comfortable silence Todoroki spoke up. "Thank you Midoriya. I-" he paused, trying to figure out what he wanted to say "-I'm glad that it was you I lost to. You didn't care whether you won that match or not did you? You put your victory, no, your best shot at your dream in jeopardy to help me. I have to know, why?" Todoroki turned to look at Izuku, confused. "Why would you risk your best shot just to help someone you barely knew?"
Izuku remained silent as he thought. Why had he put everything on the line to help Todoroki? No, Izuku knew already; he didn't need to think about it very hard. "Because heroes always put others first. After what you told me how could I not help?" Izuku answered honestly.
"I suppose so... " Todoroki admitted.
"Oh! After this we should exchange numbers so we can keep in touch." Izuku suggested.
Todoroki nodded. "Alright. I'm sure it won't be hard to find you after this. I don't think Bakugou can blend well into a crowd. I assume you two will be leaving together?"
Izuku nodded "Yeah we live together so it makes sense to head home together. And yeah, Kacchan is never hard to pick out of a crowd."
Todoroki hummed. "You two live together huh?"
"I told you we're not related. So please don't ask me again, and if you value your safety don't ask Kacchan either. He doesn't know how to gently tell people no." Izuku said, frowning slightly.
"I see. I'll keep that in mind." Todoroki paused. "Kacchan?"
"O-oh right. That's just what I call Katsuki. Like I said before we've known each other since we were little. I called him that back then and just have ever since." Izuku explained.
"And he calls you Deku? Isn't that an insult?" Todoroki asked.
"Ah yeah, it was. But then it just kinda stuck? I got used to it I guess so it doesn't bother me anymore." Izuku said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Between you and me I'm considering using it as my hero name one day. It just feels right." Izuku shrugged.
Todoroki faced forward as silence fell over the two. "I think Deku would make an excellent hero name." Todoroki finally said. Izuku said nothing as a small smile made its way onto his face.
Katsuki easily dodged another kick from Iida with a well timed explosion. Katsuki was starting to get annoyed. It was clear to anyone with eyes that Iida wasn't on top of his game. His head seemed far away from the match and the fact that his opponent wasn't giving it his all was pissing Katsuki off. Katsuki rocketed towards Iida, grabbed his arm, and threw him out of bounds probably with far more force than was necessary. The moment Katsuki was announced the winner Iida got up and sped off. Katsuki returned to the stands in a bad mood, but watching Izuku's match helped a bit.
Izuku was against the other recommendation student from his class; the one with the creation quirk. It pretty much boiled down to a fight between who could wield their equipment better, and since Izuku had a lot of in the field experience with similar versions of his gear he pulled out the win.
Katsuki also had time to think during the match; it lasted some time since Yaoyorozu kept making new things to counter Izuku as Izuku kept coming up with new strategies to get around the gear. The way Iida had acted was way out of character. Katsuki frowned and looked over at Uraraka who didn't seem to be upset about her loss anymore. She didn't seem distressed at all in fact so that meant that whatever was going on with Iida she had no clue about. Still she seemed to be the best person to approach about this.
Katsuki stood up and walked over to Uraraka. The finals match would be starting soon so he didn't have much time but he needed to make sure he wasn't going to be distracted by this during the match. "Oi Round Face. Can I talk to you real quick?"
Uraraka blinked in surprise and Katsuki caught a few snickers and cat calls from the newly dubbed "Bakusquad". Katsuki himself had not chosen the name but the group chat he had been added to had quickly been renamed to that. "Sure Bakugou. Is something wrong?" Uraraka asked, ignoring the others who quickly gave up.
"It's about Glasses. He seemed off during our match and he ran off as soon as it was over. Do you know anything about that? I see you two hanging out a lot." Katsuki asked.
Uraraka frowned in thought. "He did get a call right before your match. He looked a bit shaken when he got it but when I asked about it he said he was fine for his match. Must have been worse then he let on if he ran off like that." Uraraka finished, concerned.
"Alright well I'm going now. Just figured I'd let you know or whatever." Katsuki turned to walk off.
"Good luck Bakugou! And don't worry I'll keep an eye on Iida." Uraraka called after him.
"Whatever! Like I care about Glasses anyway!" He yelled back, not turning around.
"Ladies and gentlemen! It's time for the final match! Who will come out on top? Let's find out!" Present Mic announced, doing his best to hype up the crowd even further. Meanwhile both Izuku and Katsuki stood waiting to be called to the field. "First we have hero course class 1-a's resident bad boy and top scorer on the entrance exam! He's been dominating the competition so far, Bakugou Katsuki!" Katsuki emerged onto the field to thunderous applause. He did his best to keep a neutral face, but he was excited. This was exactly how it was meant to be; just him versus Izuku in the final round. "And his opponent, the general studies student who keeps surprising us and has had a solid presence in the entire competition, Midoriya Izuku!" Izuku locked eyes with Katsuki as he walked onto the field. Both were tense in anticipation and excitement. It had been a long time since they could really go all out against each other.
"Let's see who's the stronger one now Kacchan." Izuku challenged, twirling his staff.
Katsuki let a large, confident smirk spread over his face. "Oh you know it Deku. Give it all you fucking got!"
Present Mic barely said go when the two launched themselves at each other. They met in the middle and exchanged some blows before they both backed off. "C'mon that's the same shit we do when we spar! Gonna have to try a lot harder if you wanna beat me Deku!" Katsuki yelled.
"I'm just warming up Kacchan!" Izuku said as he threw something at him.
Smoke filled Katsuki's vision and he lost sight of Izuku. "Dammit not this again." Katsuki thought, annoyed. Katsuki put his hands together. If he couldn't see he'd just even the playing field. "Stun grenade!" Katsuki felt something collide with him. He pushed it away with a brief explosion. He heard a grunt of pain and figured he'd hit Izuku.
Not long after Katsuki felt himself get tripped and painfully hit the ground. "I'm not gonna be slowed down by that Kacchan! I've had much worse from you!" Izuku's voice came through the still present smoke.
"I knew it wouldn't slow you down idiot. That was a fucking love tap." Katsuki retorted as he launched an explosion in the direction of Izuku's voice. Izuku then darted through the smoke and got close to Katsuki. He quickly whipped out his capture weapon and wrapped it around Katsuki's stomach. Izuku yanked the capture weapon and managed to throw Katsuki off balance. He darted forward and connected a solid hit with his staff to Katsuki's stomach. He used an explosion from his staff to get some distance and also undid his capture weapon. "That was a cheap shot, Deku." Katsuki said through gritted teeth.
Izuku shrugged. "No such thing as a cheap shot if it keeps you alive right? I thought that was one of our rules?" he answered cheekily.
"Don't use my own words against me!" Katsuki once again launched himself at Izuku. The two exchanged blows in what looked like a well practiced dance. Hits were only landed occasionally as the two moved around each other in well practiced motions. They'd been sparring for years so they were both familiar with the other's fighting style. The result of this was incredibly interesting to watch.
Shota watched in fascination as the two students wove around each other. It was clear to him that this was far from their first fight together. Shota had already been interested in the two general studies students before, but now he was even more curious. It was rare for even one general studies student to make it to the final round let alone two. For one to make it to the final round and be holding their own against the student who scored the highest on the entrance exam was completely unheard of. Shota made sure to hide the grin on his face in his capture weapon. He didn't need to freak out Hizashi while he was focused on commentating. Shota knew what he wanted to do during the internships now.
Izuku and Katsuki find it easy to lose themselves in the fight. Landing glancing blows that they both know will eventually add up, but neither cares. The fight brings up memories of their first all out fight. That fight occurred under far less friendly circumstances though. It had been a fight fueled by anger, frustration, and pain. Though at the end of it the two had felt lighter, and they were able to start to move on and mend their relationship.
Finally a decisive blow was landed. Izuku didn't manage to roll out of the way of one of Katsuki's explosions in time and he took the brunt of it. Izuku pushed on after the blow but both knew that the blow had decided the fight. Katsuki didn't dare hold back though as he grabbed Izuku and launched him out of bounds. Katsuki stood there panting; covered in injuries. It had been a close match and Katsuki couldn't be happier.
The applause was deafening. Though Katsuki ignored it as he walked over to Izuku and held out his hand. "Good match Deku. I know I don't say it often but, I'm really fucking proud of you."
Izuku beamed and took his hand. "I know Kacchan. I'm really proud of you too. You've grown a lot since we were kids."
Katsuki pulled his hand back and crossed his arms. "Fucking whatever Deku. I've always been awesome. But you're awesome too I guess. Only cause you hang out around me though."
Izuku smiled but said nothing. There was no way Katsuki would get all sentimental in public like this. The two were quickly looked over by Recovery Girl, who said nothing but looked disappointed.
The award ceremony was an exciting affair. Izuku could barely contain his excitement as All Might handed out the medals. Izuku managed to stay somewhat calm as All Might draped a silver medal around his neck. "Young man your performance today was commendable! Despite the odds being against you, you prevailed and managed to make it to the finals. You may not be my student now, but I hope to see you in the hero course one day!" All Might finished with a thumbs up.
Izuku nodded. "T-thank you! All Might! I'll keep doing my best!"
All Might nodded and walked over to Katsuki. "You did well young Bakugou! It was a pleasant surprise to see you work so well with others! You're going to be an amazing hero, so keep at it!"
Katsuki bowed his head as All Might put the gold medal over his head. "Thanks All Might. I'll do that." Katsuki said quietly. "One day I'll surpass even you." he said, lifting his head.
All Might nodded. "I look forward to seeing that day my boy!"
After that everyone was dismissed to go home. Izuku and Katsuki met up with Shinsou and Hatsume. Shinsou walked up to Izuku and handed him his notebook back. "Congrats. You really threw them all for a loop out there. I snuck over to spy on class 1-a during the match and they were all shocked that you held your own against him."
Izuku smiled. "We've been sparring for years and Kacchan isn't a merciful teacher. It was either learn or go home hurting everyday."
Shinsou winced. "I know. I've barely been through any of his training. I can't imagine what it would be like to go through that for years."
"I'm a fucking great teacher, you two are just whimps." Katsuki scoffed.
"Ah Midoriya." Todoroki said as he approached the group.
"The fuck do you want icy hot?" Katsuki said, glaring at him.
"Kacchan it's ok. I told him to find me after so we could exchange numbers." Izuku explained, pulling out his phone.
"Huuh? With him? Why the fuck would you do that?" Katsuki asked.
Izuku sighed, but Todoroki answered. "He asked if we could be friends. It makes sense to be able to communicate with each other, especially since we're not in the same class." Todoroki frowned and looked at Izuku. "That's correct, right?"
"Yeah, something like that." Izuku shrugged. "It's just so we can talk if we want to and maybe even hang out." he said as he added his number to Todoroki's phone.
"Mmm that sounds… nice." Todoroki took his phone back and added his number to Izuku's phone. "I'll see you around Midoriya." with that he left.
"Friends with icy hot? Really?" Katsuki asked, a disapproving scowl on his face.
Izuku nodded. "Mhm. He needs friends Kacchan. He's not as bad as you think he is."
"Ugh whatever, just don't try to drag me into it." Katsuki conceded as he walked away. "Now lets go before we fucking miss our train!"
Izuku waved goodbye to Shinsou and Hatsume before going after Katsuku. Little did they all know that as they rode home things were being set in motion that would change their lives forever.