Once again, Katsuki was laying into a heavy bag with all his might. Once again, it was failing to alleviate his tension the way it once did. Every single blow hit hard, yet each felt hollow in a way he couldn't quite explain. Even more disturbing than the lack of relief to go with his sweat-stained clothing and bruised knuckles was the fact that Katsuki finally realized why simply hitting the gym was no longer working. There was no denying it, no matter how much he wanted to.

Katsuki's body was on autopilot. He had trained so much for so long that he had fallen into an almost scripted routine, and muscle memory allowed his mind to wander no matter how hard he pushed himself. Long ago, the punches against worn leather had stopped hurting in any way that mattered, and his knuckles had grown almost perpetually numb. The strikes had eventually just become something to do, and that automated quality to workouts gave way to reflection. Even during mitt drills and sparring, Katsuki wasn't thinking about the task at hand- more and more, he was thinking about himself.

Things were changing- his perspective on All Might, U.A. as a school, Izuku, and himself had all shifted almost daily since he had been accepted to the university. Nothing was as simple as 'just deal with it' anymore despite his insistence, and his isolated moments of rage were no longer able to be guaranteed privacy. Katsuki used to just hold it in until he could get to the gym or his bedroom and then silently seethe until the tension dispelled itself. That was no longer an option with a roommate around… and so many people that seemed to care so much about him occupying the floor. Even with their relatively limited interactions thus far into the school year, Katsuki could tell that several people cared deeply about him… and he felt similarly in return, for reasons he couldn't put into words.

It had started with Kyoka. There was something there, something Katsuki couldn't quite explain. The way she spoke to him in her parents' record store, her deadpan tone and blasé attitude intermixed with occasional moments of impishness, and her love of music were all things that instantly drew him in. Katsuki felt like he could talk to her without getting annoyed- really talk to her, and she would understand. Yes, she had problems and wasn't particularly great at dealing with them… but when he looked past the irritation involved with supporting her, she listened. Kyoka actually took his advice and tried to stand on her own two feet in a way that made it feel like he mattered to her, and in a weird way, she was beginning to matter a lot to him.

Not to mention, their tastes in music aligned. That was important. Much more important than Katsuki realized, given that he hadn't had someone like that in his life before. He wanted to talk to Kyoka about music and do a deep dive on her tastes, and soon. Katsuki wanted to talk to Kyoka a lot more… but he also didn't want to seem too eager or off-putting. It was a struggle that was entirely unfamiliar, and any and all solutions struck him as profoundly unnatural. All he could think to do was stall, or take the plunge… and he was leaning toward taking the plunge.

Next to breach his defenses had been Daisuke, and the boy had been so good at it that Katsuki hadn't even realized it was happening before it was too late to push him away. They were opposites, in a way- while Katsuki was nearly always stewing in some level of anger beneath the surface, Daisuke was impressively calm and only rattled in extreme occasions. Katsuki preferred to get loud and authoritative in disagreements and out in the field, while Daisuke tried to keep the mood more subdued and spoke softly no matter how tense things became. On a Quirk level, Katsuki knew that he was powerful- worryingly powerful- while Daisuke struggled enough with his own that he preferred not to talk about Quirks at all.

That quality reminded him a bit of Izuku… though that was the only point of comparison in his mind.

Despite the contrast between himself and Daisuke, what really stuck out to Katsuki was the way they synergized perfectly. What he didn't want to deal with, Daisuke was happy to avoid. Whenever a subject was brought up that Katsuki shot down, Daisuke would table the discussion and be content to merely coexist in silence. There was no needling, no insistent and obnoxious goading or encouragement… in Daisuke, he had just found a partner who offered mutual support without any baggage. It was something Katsuki wasn't used to at all, and he grew to appreciate it more and more each day. In short, he had found a wingman and grown content with the other boy's presence and stability. Having a 'bro' suited Katsuki nicely… as much as he hated the fact that the word was the first to come to his mind to describe their relationship.

Finally, Momo had chosen not to lean on his walls like Kyoka or test and reinforce them like Daisuke- instead, she charged straight through them when he was least expecting it. At first, her every word to him that night felt like a calculated attack that he had serious trouble defending against. By the end of the conversation, though, her words were more like surgery, both in their precision and capacity to explore old wounds. Momo's poignant probing was a challenge- one that he needed and appreciated, even if it scared him a bit. She was a challenge.

Katsuki was getting very used to being scared about both himself and the future. It was a unique sort of thrill, and one that might allow him to grow. If nothing else, it forced him to finally focus on himself in a way that wasn't just training. Momo and Daisuke in particular struck him as being key on his journey of self-discovery, which he was finally able to admit was inevitable.

All that was left was to make it useful. If he was going to deviate from his usual path, he had to get something out of it. Otherwise, routine suited him just fine.

As he held on to the heavy bag, panting and utterly exhausted, Katsuki realized that maybe that was it- maybe, just like in his training, he was growing used to a scripted routine in life itself. Things had become too safe. Too automatic. His group of friends- a word he was finally comfortable using, at least in his own mind- at U.A. had shaken things up far more quickly than Katsuki anticipated and already proven that not everyone in his life was an asshole put there to obstruct him. There were new opportunities, new feelings to be had… and the majority of them were, in fact, quite alien and unsettling.

Katsuki released the bag and backed off, shutting his eyes to try to block out those very same thoughts. Unfortunately, the black canvas of his eyelids merely gave him infinite space in which to imagine things he had never given serious thought to before. There was no more avoiding it, and Katsuki knew that he had to figure out what to do about it, at fast. He was being routinely hit with unbidden feelings of lust, and they were only getting stronger as he got to know the girls better.

As much as he respected Momo and Amaya as people, his eyes felt almost magnetized to their chests at least once in every conversation they had. Refraining from looking at their breasts, especially when Momo was in her silk robes that showed cleavage or Amaya's nipples were outlined by one of her many band shirts or tight black tops was nearly impossible. Katsuki's proclivity for staring filled him with shame, but he just couldn't stop. Every time they looked away from his eyes, he would steal a glance… and he was fairly certain that Amaya had caught him at least once. Her look of amusement when he thought she had noticed seemed almost inviting… but Katsuki's wasn't confident enough in that observation to make anything of it. He had decided on day one, the first time he had had thoughts about one of the girls, that he was simply going to repress them and focus on self-improvement along the heroes' path.

Unfortunately, none of his resolutions about the path forward seemed to be panning out. Katsuki slicked back his hair with sweat and opened his eyes before heading toward the doors of the gym. He walked briskly, as though he could somehow outrun the barrage of impurity assaulting his mind. He was just tired and stressed, and his body was channeling all of that negative energy into thoughts he shouldn't have. That had to be it. A simple explanation, and it would be simple to move on after finding it.

As Katsuki entered the staircase with the intent to walk off his pent-up frustration, he found himself picturing Kyoka naked and wondering whether or not she shaved her pubic hair, and if so, into what style. The sudden intrusive thought was enough to make him stop on a random step, wondering what was wrong with him… and yet he simply couldn't prevent his mind from conjuring up the lewd thoughts.

Which did he think would look better on her? He was leaning toward a landing strip. Did it match her hair color? It must… or at least, he assumed that's how it worked.

Should he shave his own? Girls liked that, didn't they? Katsuki had never bothered, but thought he should probably at least consider it lest something happen with one of the girls. It seemed almost disrespectful to continue leaving it as-is.

Why did any of those considerations matter? Katsuki wasn't going to be having any sort of sex with anyone anytime soon, even if he did somehow get closer to one of the girls.

Right?

What if Amaya pulled him aside at some point, and placed her lips on his…

Katsuki gripped the sides of his head, squeezing and almost hoping he could just burst his own skull right there in the stairwell. There was no reason for him to be thinking about Kyoka that way, or wondering what it would feel like to squeeze one of Tsuyu's thighs. Daisuke didn't think about any of the young women around them in a sexual way… and Katsuki most certainly did not want to be like Minoru.

He decided he would just simply stop it. He would will himself to think of the girls only as friends, and in a team or academic context.

He knew immediately that the mental declaration was bullshit.

Katsuki remembered that Daisuke had already told him it didn't work that way. Asexuality wasn't a choice, and his sex drive was likely only going to ramp up over time so long as he stayed at U.A., surrounded by attractive young heroines-in-training. Looking at porn and masturbation was a rare indulgence for Katsuki, and one he absolutely could not afford while Momo or Eijiro were sharing a dorm with him. He was stuck with his racing mind and uncomfortable feelings for the night… and the foreseeable future. It was then and there that Katsuki realized he had to find something, anything to do that would distract him and eventually lull him to sleep, no matter how disgusted he was with himself.

Once again, the answer came far more easily than he expected… and once again, it was one he didn't want.

Katsuki breathed out an aggressive snort through his nose and began to stomp up the stairs once again. He was going to just talk to Momo- admit that she was right in her assessment of him and make a pact to watch out for each other. They did both need support in dealing with Izuku and One for All, and he could tell that much like Kyoka, she wanted someone to lean on. Perhaps being a rock for someone else would help him solidify his own standing. It was worth a shot. It felt right to do… and Katsuki felt like he owed her after he had nearly had a tantrum and stormed out of the dorm.

Upon reaching the dormitory door, Katsuki paused. He stared at the dark blue paint and took several steadying breaths as he tried to work through what to say in his mind. Hopefully Momo would carry the conversation as she had before and guide him through talking about his feelings on the matter of Izuku and what they could do for each other. If nothing else, he did figure out how to start off.

"Yaoyorozu… I'm sorry," Katsuki said quietly as he furrowed his brows, concentrating as he fought to overcome the pit in his stomach that the words brought on. "Hey. I'm… sorry for the way I acted earlier."

Another pause as he continued to focus on the door, speaking in a near whisper. The phrasing didn't sound right to him, for whatever reason.

"I'm sorry, Yaoyorozu. I… have trouble explaining what I'm thinking, sometimes," Katsuki tried. Again, it wasn't satisfactory. "Can we talk? About earlier?"

With a noise of contempt, Katsuki simply pushed open the door and decided to say whatever came to mind first before his adrenaline wore off. He shut the door behind himself, turned, opened his mouth, and…

…found Momo fast asleep on Eijiro's bed, her side rising and falling softly beneath the covers.

All drive and hope of relief drained from Katsuki as though someone had pulled a plug at the bottom of his stomach. He immediately noticed the nice, sloping curve from Momo's waist up and around her butt, masked by the thin sheets of the bed. Her frame was inviting and alluring, and the thought of how nice and warm it would feel to press up against her from behind leaped to the front of his mind.

Embarrassed and annoyed with himself, Katsuki shook his head and opened the dormitory door before storming out into the hall and heading for the showers.

He needed a long, cold shower to get through whatever the hell was wrong with him.

Author's Note:

Because the question has been brought up several times in reviews/DMs, I do just want to throw this out there- no, Bakugo is not going to become a harem protagonist, get laid constantly, and bounce around between girls. There will be sex in this story, and Bakugo will end up exploring his sexuality and the idea of relationships as a concept, but that's only a piece of his development and by no means the overall focus of EINE. He's just a frustrated, repressed teen in a whole new world of confusing relationships platonic and otherwise, and currently trying to figure himself out. He won't be acting on every thought he has… and he won't be successful in every attempt he eventually makes at things involving intimacy. The poor kid's confused, horny, and angry, and that's not a great combination to deal with… especially alone.

-RD