A/N: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!? Tomorrow (April 15) marks the one-year anniversary of this fic! I never imagined it would go beyond a few chapters, much less for one whole year! Still, I'm glad I could keep it going for this long. To celebrate, I wanted to do a special chapter featuring a certain bomberanian. Read on!

It was a cool spring afternoon in Musutafu, and Deku and Todoroki were enjoying it by walking down Banaizu Boulevard. Compared to the nighttime hours, there wasn't as much activity at this time, though the occasional 60s/70s muscle car could be seen driving down the boulevard. Deku even took notice of the situation:

"Wow, this place sure looks a lot different than it did at night!"

"I know! Besides, daytime or nighttime, this is one of my favorite places to take a walk."

Deku smiled and put a hand on Todoroki's shoulder. "It wouldn't have anything to do with the night you first kissed me…would it?"

Todoroki giggled. "It might!"

Deku giggled as well. "Oh Shoko, you're so silly!"

"THERE YOU ARE! I'VE BEEN LOOKIN' ALL OVER FOR YOU TWO IDIOTS!"

Deku and Todoroki instantly turned around to see who was yelling at them, and unsurprisingly, it was…

"Kacchan?" said Deku. "Why are you so angry at us?"

"I'VE BEEN WATCHIN' YOU TWO, AND I'M GONNA BE HONEST: I'M SICK OF YOU BEIN' SO LOVEY-DOVEY WITH EACH OTHER! SERIOUSLY!? YOU ASSHOLES THINK YOU'RE HOT SHIT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE HAPPY AND SMOOCHIN' EACH OTHER!? WELL YOU'RE NOT! YOU'RE JUST A COUPLE OF LOSERS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, AND ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHO'S REALLY NUMBER-ONE AROUND HERE!"

"Bakugo, we don't think we're better than anyone else," said Todoroki. "Our love for one another has no bearing on our proficiency as heroes. Besides, if there is something troubling you, I'm willing to talk about it, but please, let's be civilized here."

Kacchan opened his mouth to yell something else at Deku and Todoroki, but found that the words died in his mouth with their boots on. Seeing that the two lovebirds were giving him looks of concern, he struggled to yell anything else at them, and as cool and strong as he fancied himself, he just couldn't keep himself together, so he fell to his knees crying.

"OH, WHO AM I KIDDIN'!? I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE! I…I HATE MY LIFE SO MUCH! NO ONE LIKES ME! I WISH I WAS NEVER BORN!"

Despite being surprised by Kacchan's crying, Todoroki smiled, got on her knees before him and put her hands on his shoulders.

"Bakugo, no one hates you! Even if you have been notorious for your foul attitude, deep down inside, I know you're a good person, and me and everyone else in Class 1-A will do anything for you!"

Todoroki gave Kacchan a hug, which he gladly returned. As he continued to cry, all Kacchan could think about was how he'd missed so many opportunities to connect with people by pushing them away. On the other hand, being in Todoroki's arms and feeling her soft, warm, cuddly touch, he could also feel all the anger, hatred, depression and trauma that had plagued him throughout his life melting away, taking a huge weight off of his shoulders. He also thought back to the time that the League of Villains had kidnapped him and she'd been among those who'd come to his rescue. Secretly, he'd always wanted to thank her, and now that they were hugging, he felt like he was able to take advantage of that opportunity, which also eased his pain. He didn't even care that a few bystanders were looking at him. He needed this more than ever.

Speaking of pain, Todoroki got her fair share knowing that Kacchan was feeling so messed up inside. On the other hand, it also made her feel really good knowing that she could be there for such a poor soul who cried out for love. Owing to her motherly instinct, all she wanted to do right now was wrap him up in a blanket and fix him a nice, warm meal. Even if they had their differences in the past, that didn't matter to her. As far as she was concerned, they were on the same side, and she would definitely have wanted him to do the same thing for her if she was ever feeling down. That was what heroes were for, wasn't it? Speaking of heroes, another thing that Todoroki liked about being able to comfort him was that were it not for Deku, she might not ever have gotten the chance to comfort Kacchan.

As for Deku himself, knowing that his greatest rival, the one who'd bullied him for so many years had broken down like this and admitted how hurt he was caused the green bean to just freeze up and behold the whole situation, even wanting to break down crying himself. Never in a million years had he ever thought that Kacchan would ever open his heart and pour out his emotions like this. Even so, seeing Kacchan letting the pain flow freely and allowing Todoroki to comfort him gave Deku hope, knowing that someone who had previously been perceived as a nasty brute had learned the value of vulnerability and humility. Even after Kacchan stopped crying, he continued to hold on to Todoroki. The bicolor girl didn't even let go of him, figuring that he could really use the comfort. Eventually, Kacchan backed away, but kept his hands on Todoroki.

"IcyHot…I mean Todoroki, I'm sorry for every bad thing I ever did to you and anyone else. Can ya forgive me?"

Todoroki smiled and put her hands on Kacchan's cheeks. "Of course I forgive you, Bakugo! I couldn't hate someone who's been by my side through thick and thin! Besides, you have the face of an angel! How could your own mother look at you and not think 'I'm so proud of my little boy'?"

Kacchan sniffled. "OK…just stop. I don't wanna cry anymore!"

"Here…"

Todoroki gave Kacchan some tissues, which he blew his nose and dried his eyes with.

"By the way," said Todoroki, "since you've been such a good boy, I wanted to express my appreciation for everything you've done for us!"

Todoroki put her hands on Kacchan's shoulders and gave him a couple of cheek kisses – what the French would call "la bise" – which caused the explosive blond to blush.

"Todoroki, I can safely say that that's the gayest thing you've ever done."

"What's wrong with being gay? Doesn't that word also mean 'happy'? Besides, what's so gay about being kissed by the most beautiful girl in Class 1-A?"

Deku smiled. "She has a point, Kacchan!"

"Wow, I never imagined that you'd ever be so full of yourself," said Kacchan.

Todoroki giggled. "You should only know!"

Deku smiled and approached Kacchan. "Kacchan, I forgive you, too! Considering everything we've ever been through at UA, I couldn't be mad at you anymore! You're my best friend, and you always will be!"

Kacchan smiled. "Thanks, Deku! You're my best friend, too!"

"You're welcome!"

Deku also gave Kacchan a hug, which the latter returned, albeit with a bit of reluctance…

"Deku, I'm glad we're on good terms, but I'm gonna let go now 'cause this is gettin' really gay, more than Liberace."

Todoroki put a hand on Kacchan's shoulder. "Bakugo, if you talk about anything being gay again, I'm gonna do the cheek kisses to you again!"

Kacchan sighed. "All right, you win, Todoroki."

Deku giggled. "Anyways, enough standing around! Let's go get ice cream or something!"

Deku wrapped an arm each around Kacchan and Todoroki, and they headed on down the boulevard.

"Deku, tell me somethin', and be honest," said Kacchan.

"OK."

"Are you secretly All Might's son?"

Deku and Todoroki laughed at Kacchan.

"WHAT!? I WAS BEIN' SERIOUS!"

"Bakugo, I asked him that same question at the Sports Festival!" said Todoroki. "Oh, you're so funny!"

Deku and Todoroki continued to laugh, and Kacchan even broke down laughing himself. All in all, it was a better day than anything Ice Cube ever had.

Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.