Izuku sprinted across the courtyard to the Support Course dorms after dinner, a smile plastered to his face. He pushed open the doors to Hastume's dorm and b-lined for the elevators. She was sitting at her desk, goggles down over her eyes when Izuku threw open her door.

Hatsume looked up, slightly startled. "It happened?" she asked, a grin splitting her face when Izuku gave a breathless nod. "Ha! I was right!" She turned back to her mangled baby, waving a screwdriver in his general direction. "I told you, 76% chance you two would end up together but the end of the year." She sat back in thought, pressing the screwdriver to her chin. "Well, that was before I was positive about Bakugo's feelings, but still, I was right!"

"Seriously?" Izuku huffed, deflating. "You couldn't have just told me you suspected he liked me back then?"

Hatsume gave him a long look. "And ruin the drama of it?" She shook her head while tutting her tongue. "Besides, you two had a lot to work out. I was more than happy to sit back and watch." Light glinted off her goggles as she turned to him with a crooked grin. "Kiri and I get coffee together sometimes to complain."

Izuku's jaw dropped open. "You what?"

She nodded solemnly. "Poor guy has been going through it with Bakugo."

"Oh, he's so dead," Izuku grumbled, finally stepping into the room fully and shutting the door.

"At this point," Hatsume said, turning back to her baby, "he'd probably welcome it." She gasped and whipped around. "Does he know?"

Izuku shrunk back against the door, a bit of warmth coming to his face. "We're going to keep it quiet for a little while. I guess Kacchan might tell him. I'm telling you after all," he mused, twisting his fingers together. He frowned as he remembered the conversation in the locker room. "Oh," he breathed with a wince, "he thought we were already dating. Yeah, we should probably tell him."

Hatsume snorted. "He told me about that. We had two coffees with that conversation," she said holding up two fingers as she soldiered on wires.

"So, are you guys like friends now?" he asked, leaning on the back of her chair to look at what she was working on.

Hatsume shrugged. "We had a common goal at first. But he's a great strength test for my babies." She tilted her head back to look up at him. "I assume the talk at home went well?"

"Only Mic was there," Izuku said as he moved to sit beside her on the floor, resting his head on her thigh. "But, yeah, it went well." He closed his eyes, remembering the night she convinced him to transfer. "Crazy how things change."

Hatsume picked up her phone as it buzzed. She made a stressed hum and started typing. "Yeah, Kiri didn't know. Sorry."

"Hatsume!" Izuku screech, scrambling to his feet. "When did you tell him?"

"I thought Bakugo would've told him by now!" she defended, screen lighting up again. Izuku leaned over her shoulder as she opened the message. "I think he's mad," she muttered, narrowing her eyes at the screen.

"But there's a smiley face."

Hatsume shrugged. "Could be read as passive-aggressive."

Izuku dragged a hand down his face with a groan. "I'll see you later, Hats."

"Bye, good luck!" she called, sliding the goggles back down.

Izuku trudged back to his dorm, steps becoming more clipped each time his phone buzzed. After the fifth notification, he opened his messages. Four were from Bakugo and one from Kirishima.

KIRISHIMA: I just wanna talk

Izuku looked up at his dorm and considered going back, but there was a good chance that Hatsume would throw him out, so he pressed on. He tentatively pulled open the doors and looked around. There were muffled voices coming from the dining room and the TV was on in the lounge, but overall, the common area was pretty empty.

When he got to his floor, Izuku edged his way down the hall, eyes locked on Kirishima's and Bakugo's doors. He froze we he saw that Bakugo's door was cracked open and heard voices. Taking a deep breath, Izuku knocked lightly and pushed it open.

Kirishima and Bakugo looked up when he entered. "Hey, Midoribro," Kiri said with a tight smile.

Izuku hesitated closing the door but caught Bakugo's amused expression and figure it must be ok. "Hey, Kiri. . . What's up?"

His brows rose, fingertips pressed together. "What's up?" He cocked his head to the side and gave Izuku a once over. "Why don't you tell me?"

Izuku turned his nose up. "Why don't you tell me about your coffee dates with Hatsume?"

"Wait, what?"

Kiri pursed his lips. "Ok, I can explain," he said with a raise of his hands. "If I had to listen to him talk about you one more time."

"You're so fucking dramatic," Bakugo said with a small chuckle.

Kiri turned to him; brow raised in challenge. He clasped his hands to his chest. "Kiri, he's so cute when he's just waking up, he scrunches his nose. Kiri, I caught him looking at my ass. Kiri—" he ducked out of a swing from Bakugo, "—fuck Aizawa for buying him new shirts."

Izuku pressed up against the door as the two fought.

"You can't be mad at me!" Kiri said, breathless with a laugh. "I thought you two had been together, then I find out that's not the case." He put his hands down his Bakugo took a step back. "I had to see if Hatsume knew anything. I couldn't keep it inside, dude. It was her or Denki and we

both know how that would've gone."

Bakugo relaxed to a slight pout. "Whatever." He glanced at Izuku and did a double-take before leveling a glare at Kiri. "I'm still gonna kick your ass."

Kiri rubbed the back of his neck with a wide grin. "So, you two are an actual thing now?" "It's been like three hours," Izuku whined, peeling himself off the door.

"You said we weren't going to tell anyone," Bakugo shot back, whipping his head over to look at Izuku.

"Hatsume doesn't count, Kacchan."

Kiri hooked an arm around Bakugo's neck. "Yeah, best friends don't count." He stepped back when Bakugo started smoking. "I don't know how long you two plan to keep this on the down- low, but Mina is definitely suspicious." He walked past Izuku and pulled open the door. "See ya tomorrow, bros."

Izuku turned back to Bakugo when the door clicked closed. "So," he said, pressing his lips together in an attempt to hide the smile breaking out on his face, "when exactly did I stop being scrawny?"

Bakugo simmered with a deep breath. "I'm gonna kill him."

"Come on, I wanna know," Izuku teased, stepping closer. "What was that about my shirts? I guess Shinsou was right."

"What did the hell did that bastard say?" Bakugo snapped, hands curling into Izuku's shirt.

Izuku gave him a bored look. "It's just us, relax, Kacchan." Slowly Bakugo let go and Izuku smiled. "It was just something he said to me while we were packing for the training camp," Izuku explained, "that you'd stopped calling me scrawny. I hadn't really noticed my weight gain too much, but apparently everyone else was," he muttered the last part with an embarrassed wince. "Sorry Kiri found out like that."

"It's fine," Bakugo sighed, brushing his hand across Izuku's chest to smooth the wrinkles he made out. "I was going to tell him, too."

Izuku moved closer to him. "I didn't have any nightmares last night." "Oh, so you don't need me anymore, Deku?"

Izuku stiffened as Bakugo's fingers trailed over his shoulders and down his arms. "Don't be ridiculous, Kacchan." He flatted his hand on Bakugo's chest and dragged his touch upward, breath catching when a tense surge of emotions hit him. Izuku barely felt out the thoughts, getting sparks of recognition as his fingertips wove into Bakugo's hair.

"What are you doing?" Bakugo asked softly, leaning into Izuku's touch.

Izuku's lips tugged upward to one side. "You feel things very deeply and I'm trying really hard to block them all out, but it's like you're throwing them at me," he answered, watching as he drew his thumb along Bakugo's jawline. He felt that spark again. "Do you like that?" he asked, repeating the motion.

Bakugo sucked in a sharp breath but didn't move away.

Izuku glanced up at him, happy to see the blush back. "No smart remark?" he asked breathlessly, memorizing the slope of Bakugo's cheekbones. Bakugo's soft breath fanned over his face as he leaned closer. "Have I actually made you speechless?"

"Wouldn't be the first time," Bakugo said, his hands sliding up along Izuku's spine, pulling him closer.

Izuku glanced down at his lips, slightly parted with a teasing smirk, anticipation growing. "So, I've done it before?"

"A few times," Bakugo murmured, hands curling into Izuku's shirt.

Izuku kept him at a breath's distance by placing firm hands on his chest. "You gonna tell me?" He cocked his head with consideration, the smirk pulling higher. "Maybe one day."

Izuku closed the distance, Bakugo immediately returning and tugged him closer. That same feeling rolled off of Bakugo, leaving Izuku warm as his hands followed the curves of his sides. Izuku parted his lips, heart pounding in his ear as their mouths slotted together.

Izuku broke the kiss with a small pop, breathing heavily for a few seconds before going in for another. He pushed Bakugo back till they were at his bed and then a hard shove. Bakugo fell back onto the mattress.

"Shit, Deku," Bakugo said as Izuku stretched over the top of him.

Izuku pressed a kiss to his cheek and then another to the corner of his mouth, sparks of emotions breaking through his blocks. He couldn't help the dopy grin that took over his face.

Bakugo caught Izuku's face in his hands. "What the hell are you grinning about, nerd."

"You," Izuku giggled, weaseling out of his grip and planting pecks along his jaw. He searched for that spark of emotion, sliding his hands along the plains of Bakugo's chest. He heard it, the small intake of breath, the stutter of a heart beneath his palms. "There," Izuku murmured against his skin, near his ear. He pulled back and kissed him on the lips. "And here."

Bakugo cupped Izuku's jaw. "What are you talking about, Deku?" Izuku smiled into another kiss. "Maybe I'll tell you one day." "Little shit," he grumbled before pulling Izuku back.

Izuku parted his lips and ran his tongue along Bakugo's bottom lip. When Bakugo opened, Izuku pushed against him hard, chasing sparks. A small gasp broke out of him at the feeling of Bakugo's tongue meeting his. It felt like a taunt, a dare, and Izuku accepted the challenge. He ran his tongue along Bakugo's teeth lightly, hand curling into his hair.

Bakugo opened his mouth wider, hands giving Izuku's sides a squeeze.

Izuku took the invitation, sliding his tongue along the roof of Bakugo's mouth. A low hum pulled out of Bakugo, and his hands pushed into Izuku's hair.

He pulled away; fingers wrapped tight around Izuku's shoulders. "Shit, Deku," he muttered, lips wet and rosy. A swift shift of his weight and they were flipped over. "What the fuck?" he said against Izuku's neck.

Izuku arched back from his voice, eyes widening, and he lost track of where his emotions ended and the ones from Bakugo breaking through began. "K-Kacchan," Izuku pleaded, shock waves rippling under his skin as Bakugo teeth grazed his neck.

"You're doing that thing, aren't you?" he asked, muffled. "Like when we spar, you feel out my emotions."

"Well—" Izuku gasped as Bakugo's tongue ran along his jaw, wet and hot, "I-I'm a little distracted. Sorry."

Bakugo hummed against his skin with a nip of his teeth. He moved higher, closer to Izuku's ear, smirking against his skin when he jerked. Izuku whimpered and tried to turn his head, but Bakugo pushed back against him.

"Kacchan," Izuku said softly as his shirt rode up and Bakugo's hand slipped underneath. "Yeah, Deku?" he asked against his lips before kissing him.

Izuku sighed, body relaxing into the bed. He stroked Bakugo's cheeks with his thumbs. "You're amazing, Kacchan."

Bakugo blinked at him, the flush on his face darkening. Izuku felt that spark again and pecked him on the lips.

"Damn it, Deku," Bakugo growled with a drop of his head. He looked back up, cheeks pink and eyes narrowed in a glare.

Izuku smirked. "You're not so menacing when flustered, Kacchan." "I'm not flustered, Deku."

Izuku sat up with a hum, making Bakugo step away from the bed. "Right. Whatever you say, Kacchan." He stood and stretched, wrapping his arms around Bakugo's waist. "I should shower and head to bed."

"It is getting late," Bakugo muttered, glaring at the alarm clock next to his bed. Izuku kissed his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kacchan."

"Hey, Midoriya, how you doing?"

Izuku looked up from the couch to Kaminari. "Just watching some TV."

"Cool, cool," he said, leaning over Izuku's should. "So. . .you and Bakugo?"

Izuku slapped a hand over his mouth. "Where did you hear about that?"

Kaminari grinned against his palm. "You think I don't know how to get Kiri to talk?" "Did you tell anyone else?"

He looked away innocently. "Only Mina and Hitoshi. So, prepare for that."

"Great," Izuku groaned and sunk into the couch.

"Oh, and Mina mentioned a ramen place."

Izuku nodded and sat up. "Yeah, I know this place."

"Hey," Kaminari said and grabbed his shoulder, "we should do like a double date sometime."

"I think Shinsou and Kacchan would both hate that."

Kaminari grinned wider. "But that would make it fun." He glanced at the TV and back to Izuku. "Where is Bakubro?"

Izuku shut the TV off and got up. "Said he was helping Kiri with something at the sparring gyms."

"But I thought you guys were sparring again?"

"We are," Izuku said, "but when we finished, he stayed to help Kiri. I came back here."

Kaminari stepped back from the couch as Izuku came around. "I get it. There are actually a couple things I wanted to ask you about."

Izuku paused to consider his oddly serious tone before he gave a nod and headed towards the elevators. "About?" he questioned as the doors closed.

"So like. . ." Kaminari trailed off and dropped his voice to a whisper, "Present Mic and Aizawa?" His eyes widened precariously when Izuku nodded. "How am I supposed to keep that a secret, dude?"

"It's really not that big of a deal, Kami," Izuku said softly with a bit of understanding.

Kaminari tugged at his hair. "It's a huge deal, Midoriya!" He spun around to walk backwards as the doors opened. "Like, are they normal?"

Izuku frowned, steps slowing. "What do you mean?"

"Well, nothing. . .it's just hard to imagine it I guess. Hitoshi mentioned dinner Sunday and I'm—" he cut off. "I'm nervous."

"It's not that bad, I promise," Izuku said, setting a comforting hand on his shoulder

Kaminari grabbed Izuku by the shoulders. "You have to bring Bakugo. We can suffer together."

"Kacchan's already met them." He winced at the way Kaminari's face fell. "Sorry. Eri loves you, so you'll be ok."

Kaminari slapped his hands on his cheeks. "Holy shit. Are you adopted, too?"

The question felt like a punch to the gut. "Well," Izuku said as he considered it, "I'm eighteen, so there's no reason to. I don't know, I've never really thought about it. But no, I'm not, technically."

"So, they're like a whole family. All of you?" Kami asked, his hands sliding off his face. "Yeah, we are. But you can't tell anyone."

Kaminari soured but nodded anyway. "Ok, I won't. There is something else I wanted to ask you about."

Izuku followed him into his room. Not as much of a mess as he expected. More organized disorder than anything. "Ask away."

"How did you. . ." he trailed off; bottom lip caught between his teeth. "Did you always like Bakugo or was that like a new thing?"

Izuku scratched at his cheek as he felt them heat. "I don't really know. I think I've always sort of liked him."

"I was just curious," Kaminari muttered, scooting over a pile of clothes with his foot. "Because I had a crisis when I figured out I liked Hitoshi and you seem fine."

"Fine is relative," Izuku said thinking back to the pretty incident. "It took a while to figure out what I was feeling. Why did you have a crisis?"

Kaminari looked up at him, expression tight. "I didn't think I liked guys and then he showed up." His shoulders fell with a pout. "And he messed up my head."

Izuku felt like that was an accurate statement. "It didn't even cross my mind that me and Kacchan could be more than friends until Mic said something." He smiled a bit when Kaminari snorted. "I'd never really thought about it before. Dating. Or being with someone."

"Guess that would be confusing," Kaminari said. "You see, I thought you could only like girls or guys. Not both." He let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I was mourning boobs for a week, dude, before Kiri told me you can like both."

Izuku pressed a hand against his mouth to muffle his laughter.

Kami smiled wider. "Can you believe that? You can have your pick of boobs and muscles. Fucking innovative."

They jumped when someone banged on his door. "Kami, is Izuku in there?"

Izuku inched back from the door at the sound of Mina's voice. Kaminari patted his shoulder as he passed.

"Hey, Mina, how can I help you?"

She pushed up on her toes to look around him. Izuku gave a timid wave, and she forced the door open. He yelped when she threw herself at him. "I'm so happy I even talked Aizawa into letting us go to the ramen place!" Mina leaned back to grin at Izuku. "So, let's go! We need to leave now if we want to get back before curfew."

Izuku blinked at her, smiling as joy and excitement rolled off of her. "How'd you manage that?"

Her smile shifted to tight and painful. "I made a bargain which isn't important right now. Let's go!"

Izuku walked at the front of the group, having to remind himself to slow down as he took turns through alleyways.

"Izuku, are you sure you know where you're going?" Mina asked, looping her arms around his and sticking close.

"Positive. I grew up here." He gave her a reassuring smile before looking back to check on the rest of their friends.

Mina looked up at the buildings they passed through. "I've lived in Musutafu for almost three years, and I've never really explored it. I've definitely never been to this part."

"It's not the nicest looking, but the people are kind." He hung a left, slowing down to make sure everyone followed before entering the main street. "Cutting through the alleys is faster than trying to get through the crowds."

Izuku took a deep breath, relaxing at the smell of spices in the air and the familiar sounds.

"Oh, wow," Mina breathed, moving in closer to Izuku as the crowd thickened. "Is this all restaurants?"

"There are some trades shops, too," Izuku said, pulling her out of the way of a man carrying boxes. "Daishi's is just ahead."

A little bell dinged as Izuku pushed open the door. Morina looked up from where she was leaned against the counter and an instant smile spread across her face.

"Midoriya!"

"Hey, Morina, table for six?"

She gasped. "Are these your friends? Oh my god, wait!" She came around the counter and hugged him. "It's so good to see you! Hello, hi, welcome to Daishi's Ramen." Morina greeted each of them in turn but paused when she got to Bakugo. "Hey, you're Dynamight, right? You work with Midoriya."

Bakugo took a half step back with a stiff nod. "Yeah. Katsuki Bakugo."

Morina blinked at him. "Bakugo?" Her brow pinched. "Why does that sound familiar?" Izuku caught her attention with a nervous laugh. "I call him Kacchan."

"Oh!" Her eyes widened with recognition. "Kacchan! Yeah, I know all about you. Well, you in elementary anyway—Hey, let me seat you. Right this way." She picked up a stack of menus and led them to a large booth. "Call when you're ready to order."

Bakugo slid in beside Izuku. "She knows all about me, huh?"

"Morina was basically my tutor all through school," Izuku muttered defensively. "I spent a lot of time here. Of course, I talked about you." He jumped when Bakugo squeezed his thigh.

"Izuku, what do you usually get?" Mina asked, frowning at her menu.

Izuku picked up his, not exactly sure. "Uh, honestly I don't remember. I've gotten the same thing since I was like eight. But everything's good."

Morina came back and took their orders. She didn't even ask Izuku what he wanted. It was her and Daishi who brought the bowls of ramen to the table.

"Hello, Midoriya," Daishi said, the creases around his eyes deep. "It is so nice to meet all of your friends. More heroes, yes?"

Morina elbowed her father gently. "Dad, that's Kacchan," she said with a pointed nod to Bakugo. His brows raised. "Oh, this is Kacchan? I see. Good to finally meet you."

Izuku ducked his head, struggling to ignore the teasing grins from their friends.

"Hope you're hungry!"

Izuku licked his lips at the sight of his old meal and hungrily dug in. He finished first and sat back with a content sigh.

"This is amazing," Mina said between slurps of noodles. "I can't believe you've never brought us here before."

"So, you spent a lot of time here?" Shinsou asked, glancing around the restaurant.

Izuku nodded, pushing his empty bowl off to the side. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of spice wafting off Bakugo's bowl. "Yeah, I came here nearly every afternoon after school. I'd sweep or do something else and then Daishi would give me something to eat."

We should bring Dad's and Eri here.

I'll mention it Sunday, Izuku sent back. You know Kami's really nervous.

The corner of Shinsou's lips turned up. He's been telling me. Eri's excited. His eyes widened. She doesn't know about you and Bakugo. Do Dad's know?

Izuku's mouth tugged down at the corners. I haven't told them it's official yet. How long has it been official?

Izuku scowled at his raised eyebrow. Like a day and a half.

Eri's gonna be upset that you didn't tell her first.

Pretend you don't know, Izuku pleaded, pressing his palms together.

Shinsou slurped in another mouthful of noodles, never breaking eye contact. No.

"What are you two talking about?" Mina asked with a slight pout.

"How Eri's going to be upset at Izuku," Shinsou supplied.

She winced. "Oh, I didn't think about that. Good luck, Izuku."

Izuku plopped his cheek in his hand. "Thanks."

"It's getting late, we should probably head back," Kiri said while looking down at his phone. "The dinner rush is going to start soon," Izuku agreed. "Thanks, Daishi!"

Both he and Morina waved as they left. Izuku moved to the front of the group so that he could lead again, but he was happy when Bakugo caught up with him. He smiled at the concrete when he felt Bakugo's hand find his.

Behind them, Mina groaned. "Kiri, hold my hand!"

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?" she scoffed. "Hold my hand, Kiri!"

"Ok, sorry!"

Izuku looked over his shoulder at them. "Everybody got a buddy?"

Mina held up her and Kiri's intertwined hands triumphantly. "Yes!"

Izuku hung a left into a low-lit alley. "Don't linger," he told them.

After a couple more quick turns Mina asked, "How do you know where you're going, Izuku? I'm already turned around."

He shrugged. "I spent a lot of time just wandering around and figuring out ways to avoid people." Izuku looked up to the roof lines. "I like being up high near a busy street. It's easy to relax."

"Most people go somewhere quiet to relax," she said and Izuku could hear the teasing tone to her voice. "I could barely hear myself think in that crowd."

"That's what's so great about it," Izuku sighed happily. "I'd get to stay out and just enjoy an empty mind."

"Have you guys thought about what you'll do after graduation?" Kaminari asked, something wistful about his voice.

Izuku led them down another street and crossed to another alley as Mina and Kiri answered.

"I'll probably sign on at Fatgum's agency," he said. "But I'd like to branch out to a bigger city at some point."

"Haven't really thought about," Mina admitted. "I've thought about doing some search and rescue or joining a demolition team. What about you, Shinsou?"

"I'm not sure either. I'll probably be underground given how my quirk works."

Mina nodded. "Yeah, that would make sense."

"But I've also thought about being a teacher. Like Aizawa."

"You'd be a great teacher. You totally should!" She turned her attention forward. "What about you Bakugo?"

He shot her a smile over his shoulder. "I'm gonna be #1" "Right. Don't know why I even asked," she huffed. "Izuku?"

Izuku looked up in thought, eyes locking on a single, dim star. Who would miss a single star in all this? He frowned. "I thought about being underground. It might make things easier with how my quirk works, but. . ." he trailed off.

"But what?" Mina pushed.

Maybe it's the one that's important.

Izuku looked back down. "There are a lot of kids like me," he said quietly. "I'd like to give them some hope." He knew Bakugo was looking at him, but he kept his eyes forward. "I could've used it."

Bakugo gave his hand a squeeze and Izuku finally looked over at him. "Being #1 won't be worth it if you're not there, Deku," he said quietly, almost a whisper but judging by the gasp from Mina it was heard.

Izuku sucked in his bottom lip to hide the way it wobbled. "I'll be there, Kacchan," he promised unable to stop the smile that made his cheeks ache. "But you're going to have to earn it fair in square."

"Is that a challenge, Deku?" Bakugo said with his signature evil grin and tugged Izuku closer. "If you're up to it, Kacchan," Izuku said with a slight shrug.

"Where are you two going to go after graduation?" Mina asked. "Not like you can sign with Mirko."

Izuku looked over his shoulder at her. "I was just planning to see if I got any offers. Might stay here in Musutafu. But Tokyo would be cool, too."

"Tokyo?" she murmured, the word hanging in the suddenly silent air. "Yeah," Izuku breathed with a nod, "Tokyo."

Bakugo turned away from Izuku. "I've been looking into starting up my own agency after we graduate."

"Hey," Izuku said with a snap of his fingers, "maybe I'll just work with you."

Bakugo smirked. "I can't work with my competition, Deku."

"Why not?" Izuku cocked his head in thought. "I think it'd be fun."

"Come on guys, you have to leave some villains for the rest of us," Kiri said, grin evident in his voice.

Mina scoffed. "The day you two start actually working together will be the end of crime altogether."

"That's dramatic," Izuku said. "But Kacchan and I do make a good team. Even Mirko says so." "Well, you guys have known each other most of your lives," she pointed out. "Bakugo's just

stubborn. If you used the mind communication, Bakugo, your team-ups would be so much stronger.

Izuku looked at her. "It's not that big of a deal, Mina. Some people are wary of me being in their heads at any capacity." He turned back around. "Just ask Shinsou what happened when he thought he had 'nothing to hide'."

"What happened?" she asked.

"Don't," Shinsou hissed from the back of the group. "I wasn't," Izuku assured. "Relax."

Will you tell me now?

Nope, Izuku shot back.

Damn.

He smiled at her pout.

"Kaminari, plans after graduation?"

He laced his hands behind his head. "Get signed to some big agency and ride the wave from there."

"You know," Mina said quietly, "we probably won't see each other much after this year is over. That's kina sad."

Izuku looked back up at that single star. Time. It had a way of changing things. He looked around at his group of friends, the loud, noisy people he'd found, and felt his heartache at not being able to see them at any time. It was hard to imagine drifting apart completely, but Izuku supposed that was a possibility. Hero work was notorious for tough hours and little time off, especially for rookies.

Kirishima wrapped his arm around her. "Don't be ridiculous, Mina, we're class A. After everything we've been through, we're stuck together." Izuku yelped when Kiri picked him up in a hug. "Even you, Midoriya. You might've come in late, but you're a staple in the group now."

"Yeah, when Bakugo finally gets #1, we'll have a party!" Mina said, slipping to the front of the group. She jabbed a finger into Bakugo's chest. "Don't take too long."

He shoved off her hand. "Don't plan on it."

"Great! Because I can't wait to see you holding that award." She glanced over at Izuku and patted Bakugo's shoulder. "Either one of you and I'll be happy, but I know how much your ego rests on being #1." She edged away from the glare that followed and went back to Kiri. "I'm calling it right now. You two are going to be the top two Heroes."

Izuku rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know, Mina. Popularity matters."

"You don't think people will love you?" she asked, obvious disbelief in her voice. "People already love you and you're not even a Pro yet."

"Well—They don't know much about my quirk," he said, appreciating the squeeze Bakugo gave his hand.

Mina hummed behind him. "You just have to show them what you're worth," she said sternly like it was an order. "They can speculate all they want, but you're still going to be an amazing hero, Izuku, I already know."

He smiled at her. "Thanks, Mina."

He wanted to believe her, but he couldn't help but doubt. There would always be someone to complain, but Izuku wondered if saving people would truly change their minds.

"You guys go on ahead, we'll catch up," Bakugo said, pulling Izuku over.

Kiri looked around the street they'd entered. "I think we can get back to campus from here. Don't stay out too late."

Izuku waved as they walked away and pulled his hand to his chest. "Is everything ok?"

Bakugo turned to head down the other direction of the street. "Everything's fine, Deku."

"Ok," Izuku said, not fully convinced as Bakugo slowed to a casual speed. "We can't stay long."

Bakugo smirked before pulling him down an empty street barely lit by a single streetlight. "Aizawa will get over it."

"Kacchan!" Izuku tugged on his hand trying to get him to stop. "I don't want to upset him, especially after whatever deal Mina made with him to agree to let us go out on a school night."

Bakugo stopped and turned to him. "That sounds like a problem for Mina." Izuku scowled at him. "I'm serious, Kacchan. We can't be late."

"Fine," Bakugo hummed, pulled him closer. "We won't be late." His hands slipped under Izuku's jacket. "But we don't have to be back till eight."

"Yeah, but it's past seven," Izuku pointed out, arms wrapping themselves around Bakugo's neck. "And it will take us thirty minutes to get back to campus."

Bakugo leaned closer, their noses brushing. "Then that means I get twenty minutes with you."

Izuku pulled back teasingly, missing the kiss. "Is your room not good enough?"

Bakugo glared at his mouth. "I had to share you all night."

"Oh?" Izuku leaned out of the way again, struggling to hide his smile at the annoyed huff Bakugo made. "We can come again. Just us."

Bakugo's scowl softened and one of his hands came up to press against Izuku's cheek. "I want to take you on a date," he said, eyes locked with Izuku's. "A real date."

"Ok," Izuku breathed, throat tight and strained. "I'd like that, even though I have no idea what you do on dates." A laugh bubbled out of him, mirrored by Bakugo as their foreheads pressed together. "I'm so clueless, I'm sorr—" He melted into the kiss, nothing more than a quick press of lips and a gentle pull. Izuku whine as Bakugo pulled away and moved one hand to the back of his head in an attempt to bring him back.

"Stop apologizing, Deku," Bakugo sighed. He smiled against Izuku's lips. "You talk too much." Izuku let out a deep hum as their mouths slotted together. "If this is how you shut me up, I think I

need to talk more."

"You're a pain in my ass, you know that?"

Izuku stumbled as Bakugo pushed him backward till his back hit a wall. He stroked Bakugo's cheek. "You're just so easy to mess with Kacchan. Especially during Hero practice." Izuku tilted his head back with a grin, enjoying the hungry look on Bakugo's face. His hand trailed down Bakugo's neck to the bit of collar bone exposed by his shirt's neckline. "I don't even have to convince you, you just willing accept the thought as your own and fight me."

Bakugo gritted his teeth in a feral smile. "I love it when you're cocky."

Izuku felt zapped as Bakugo's head ducked down his neck. "Is it really being cocky if it's true?" he

asked, struggling to keep his voice level as Bakugo's tongue flicked over his skin. He straightened, breath hissing in through his teeth as Bakugo sucked on a spot just below his ear. "You're gonna leave a mark, Kacchan," he whined, managing a small shove.

Bakugo pulled away, wiping his mouth off with the back of his hand. He leaned in closer with a smirk. "Then I'll just have to put them somewhere else."

"Kacchan!" Izuku stammered, face flushing hot and bright, hopefully hidden by the dark. "You can't just say stuff like that!"

"Why not?" His hands found their way under Izuku's shirt.

"W-We're in public," Izuku answered weakly, shivering as his fingers passed over scars.

Bakugo leaned forward, his breath ghosting over Izuku's ear. "No one's around, Deku. This is more private than the dorms."

Izuku supposed that was true and wove his fingers through Bakugo's hair as he kissed him. He hummed happily as Bakugo's tongue passed over his lip. It slipped in as Izuku parted his mouth, the feeling coiling heat low in his stomach. "We need to leave," he murmured as Bakugo trailed kisses along his jaw and down his neck. "A-Aizawa will be. . .upset."

"You're right," Bakugo muttered against his skin but made no move to part.

"I haven't even told him that we're together," Izuku rushed out. "So, if us missing curfew is how he finds out, we will be in serious trouble."

Bakugo pulled away with a sigh, his hands resting on either side of Izuku's face. "Alright, nerd, let's go."

Izuku leaned forward and kissed him one last time, making it slow and deep. Izuku wanted to memorize the way his lips felt, the way he tasted, the little pants he made, the way his wandering hands would stall for a few distracted seconds, the way he tipped his head back just slightly in response to tongue, the subtle invitations for more. Izuku was happy to oblige, struggling to pull back as Bakugo's emotions pressed in around him, gentle and coaxing.

He slowed, shaking his head as something speared through the moment. Izuku pulled away completely, heat dissipating from his body and he reached out with his quirk.

"Deku, what's wrong?" Bakugo asked lowly, glancing around the dark street.

Izuku whipped his head around as he caught another stray thought. "Someone's out there," he whispered back.

"Hey! Show you're fucking face!" Bakugo yelled, fingers curling at his sides.

Izuku stepped back as the shadows shifted. He wrapped a hand into Bakugo's sleeve as he sorted through the thoughts hitting him, trying to make sense of them. Izuku threw his weight to the right, shoving Bakugo out of the way as a knife flew through the air.

Izuku wheezed as they hit the ground and he touched the blood running down his cheek.

"I don't believe we've met," a voice sang out as the person came into the dim streetlight.

Izuku looked the girl up and down, hearing Bakugo cursed beside him. The knife was in her hands,

a warm flush across her face as she dragged a finger through the blood coating the blade's edge. Her eyes flicked up to his as she licked the blood from her finger. "I'm Toga."