"Letting you win"

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He was rubbing his hands together, trying to conjugate what he had just witnessed.

Bakugou on the verge of breaking into a thousand pieces for not allowing himself to be touched by Midoriya; or in this case, allow himself to be embraced by him.

He didn't avoid thinking: How is it that Bakugou pretended to be such a rude and indifferent boy to the world if when he was lightly touched by Midoriya, he broke.

He was worth laughing at the ridiculousness of this.

The facade that the blond was wearing was not on par with his words, because they were contradicted by their expressions, by the great power that their eyes have to see deeply what was happening around them and in front of them.

He reached a point where the extreme urgency he had to help him crashed with that Midoriya appeared in his vision plane, stealing his attention, making him take his arm and cover his mouth with his free hand, stamping him against the wall.

Midoriya's huge eyes met his, between scared and confused.

And he understood. He had stamped him against the wall without warning him.

"Bakugou wants you to comfort him," Kirishima whispered.

Midoriya's eyes widened in shock. "He wants you to hug him"

Midoriya's face watched him in utter confusion.

"Don't tell him I told you," Kirishima warned.

The poor boy nodded.

At his response, he removed the hand that was covering his mouth. The statement that made up his expression meant that he would do whatever he could to comfort his childhood friend at any cost. It was clear that Bakugou would not give him the satisfaction of knowing that he was comforted, much to allow himself physical contact from someone else, if he didn't accept contact from anyone.

Midoriya set out to meet him, showing fear in the face of the challenge that awaited him in the form of his childhood friend.

Somehow, he wasn't satisfied with giving the blonde the opportunity to be consoled by a boy as sweet and kind as Midoriya. He was pointless, allowing it under his judgment.

He had just given the explosive boy a huge buff, without even thinking hard about it. He only did it on impulse, because he hated to see that he suffered, because he knew he was loved by the nerd. The anguish that wasted in his voice, the trembling movement of his body that reflected the despair that was succumbing to him that he hadn't allowed himself to be held by him. His childhood friend.

Suddenly, his friends came running to see what was happening, having seen him standing on the wall. He signaled them to be silent, to which they obeyed the instruction without objection.

"Kacchan," He caught the sound of Midoriya's trembling and somewhat nervous voice in an attempt to get closer to him.

Kirishima poked his eyes out to catch a glimpse of what was happening in the hall, while the attentive gazes of his friends, in a vain attempt to peer out, almost fell like dominoes. But he was faster and prevented the dreaded fall they would entail if they were caught by Bakugou on the spot. He sure he murders all four of them equally.

"Deku! What are you doing here?" Bakugou said in a small surprised voice. Stunned to see him standing in front of him, wearing a serious gesture. Kirishima had to admit that Midoriya looked attractive with that bearing. "Get away! Get away! No one asked for your help"

He turned to hide his expression, which reflected part of his weakness. Perhaps the only weakness he had, because he didn't find others.

"I wanted to apologize for catching you like that, knowing that you don't like physical contact," Midoriya said in recognition of his action. He took a few small steps towards his childhood friend, intending to touch him. Even if it's a little bit. One centimeter. "Forgive me, Kacchan."

"You don't need to apologize," Bakugou replied angrily. "I didn't ask for your compassion, much less that you pity me. Such an idiot that you are, Deku"

He wasn't looking at his face, he just bragged, hiding his face against the wall. Bakugou clenched a fist, digging his knuckles hard into the wall.

"Kacchan," He reached his hand out towards his chin. At that, Bakugou looked at the hand in panic and in a fit, he slammed a thunderous slap at Midoriya, who was repelled a few steps back, scared by the blow. Midoriya flinched from the pain of the slap, reaching up with both hands to touch the already marked cheek that received the impact.

His friends sighed in surprise at what happened.

His heart ached just to see him hunch his neck, squeezing his eyes, which trembled in pain.

Right away he noticed that Bakugou's face reflected immense panic at what he did. Stating that he didn't think about it carefully and simply defended himself from being noticed as someone weak. It wasn't necessary to be an expert in the field if Bakugou is that impulsive around his emotions. Just look at the red orbs of him, to know everything that is hidden.

"Deku," Bakugou looked down in regret.

"It's okay," Midoriya assured, rubbing his cheek.

"Don't lie"

"I care about you more than the blow." Midoriya took a giant stride toward him.

Bakugou's jaw trembled.

"The pain is temporary," He reassured him. "Just as it's temporary to be able to spend time with you, it's rare to be with you like this, I want to take advantage of it"

"What the hell are you talking about?" He inquired, backing himself up against the wall. He saw him fear for finding no escape. "You see me every damn day, stupid"

"But I'm not with you," Midoriya expressed calmly. "What I've wanted the most for months is to be able to be with you"

"W-what?" He dropped his guard.

Midoriya took advantage of the distraction to take the blond's hand and draw him to meet him. He imprisoned him in his arms in such a comforting way that he hinted at touching the sky with his hands.

"What are you doing? Let go of me" He stammered in disbelief. His voice didn't sound annoyed. On the contrary, he displayed a dose of illusion that it was impossible not to notice. "D-Deku, let go of me." He vainly pretended to wiggle out of the hug, but Midoriya's arms prevented him at all costs. He was clinging stubbornly to him, burying his head into the opening of his neck, spreading his arms outlined behind his back.

Bakugou gasped, unable to hide in the wave of insults he unleashed in defense of him, but none of the insults he launched were effective, because Midoriya didn't turn away from him for that reason.

"I won't let you go, Kacchan," Midoriya denied, determined.

"Deku that's enough," The blond claimed.

"It isn't," Midoriya said. "Because I love you, Kacchan. I love you"

The four of them sighed open-mouthed at the confession of the sweet boy of the group.

Bakugou immediately became paralyzed. He was stunned.

"I love you," He squeezed him, holding on to him as much as possible. "Don't push me away, Kacchan. Please I beg you.

"I… I…" The blonde seemed to be on the verge of breaking down in such a situation. He got rid of Midoriya's "I love you". His entire expression fell flat on the ground. There was no sign of the tough guy he appeared to be. His expression turned soft, relaxing his features. He was giving in, he was doing it for a hug from the boy. And a confession of him.

He had just tested the power Midoriya had over the explosive boy.

It was enough a few beautiful words full of feeling and a pair of arms imprisoning him comfortably and Bakugou became another.

"Deku," He pronounced loud and clear; falling apart. "Idiot." Bakugou's arms went up to him, circling shyly and eager to nail his hands on his back. The very skin of him. He hugged him back, returning with her touches ways of doing things, the gesture.

"Kacchan," Midoriya said sweetly.

Bakugou sighed in agreement, accommodating his head on his chest, seeking comfort from the freckled boy, who hugged him tight, firm and secure. Not a trace of doubt was part of that connection they just formed.

Kirishima's job was done.

However, it was by no means encouraging to see them that way. Hugging and showing the love that both had. By no means did it feel good.

It hurt horribly.

It hurt to know that he was not in Bakugou's place, being hugged by Midoriya. Despite knowing that his new feelings cannot be compared to Bakugou's feelings, because they were two different people. With different ways of dealing with his feelings and the consequences derived from certain behaviors that occurred in relation to his environment.

Kirishima was hurt, lost in the weight of the sacrifice he had to make, because his friend suffered. He suffered from the conflict over his feelings for Midoriya.

It was clear that Bakugou was in need of affection; And, for that very reason, he made an enormous effort to support him, to give him what he wanted so much from Midoriya.

Perhaps the explosive boy had long been repressing those feelings and there would come a point where they overflowed from his body, like mighty rivers flowing towards the sea.

Maybe Bakuguou suffered a lot about what he felt for Midoriya. He showed it in the way he eagerly hugged him, conveying his fears and insecurities to the adorable freckled man, who greeted them with a small smile plastered on his face.

He looked so happy hugging Bakugou, that he preferred to leave.

It had been too much for him to see them together. Embraced, glued like gum.

That should be me, he thought as a lump in his throat crept into him. I just let you win for the moment, he told himself in reference to his friend.

I let you win because you deserved a break, but the next time something like this happens, I won't have as much consideration for you as right now.

He clenched his hands, bowing his head in defeat.

He had just tasted the true taste of defeat.

And to top it off, it was the bitterest drink of his life.