Izuku sat at his desk and wondered if Katsuki left early. It made sense. He kissed him the night before. Anyone would be spooked by that, especially if it was a guy. He banged his head against the desk then stopped. He could simply call and see. He was hesitant, very hesitant. It wasn't like they couldn't act like nothing happened when something clearly happened.

"Kacchan...?" Izuku called out after he picked up.

"Are we still going together? Or did you call to say otherwise?" asked Katsuki.

"N- No. No changes, haha. See you in an hour." said Izuku quickly.

"Why don't I just come to you? It'll be better than waiting for me to come down." replied Katsuki before hanging up.

Izuku was in full panic mode. How was he to act after last night? How was Katsuki so calm? He started to straighten up his room and hoped it would calm his nerves. All he had to do was act like everything was fine. Everything was fine. He yelped at the sound of someone knocking on the door. He quickly fixed his hair in the mirror before answering the door.

"Is everything okay...? I heard you yelp." Katsuki asked full of concern.

"Everything is a-okay. Come in. Don't be a stranger, haha." said Izuku with a fake smile.

"Last night is bothering you isn't it?" Katsuki asked as he walked past him.

Izuku froze in place. If anything, talking about it before they went home was probably best. Izuku locked his door then sat beside Katsuki.

"I'm going to tell you honestly. I don't know why I did it. I just looked at you and a voice inside me said to do it, so I did. I don't intend to lead you on either. I have no romantic feelings for you whatsoever." said Izuku with a firm nod.

"Is that so? Glad to know how you feel." said Katsuki despite wanting to die inside.

Izuku nodded then looked away. Should he have said that? He subconsciously clawed at his heart as it was contracting in a weirdly sharp way. He started to think about what occurred the night before. His kiss with Shoto felt empty. He never wanted to get away from someone that bad before. Katsuki on the other hand...

"I'm just going to use your bathroom for a bit." said Katsuki before heading in.

His kiss with Katsuki made him feel something. Emotions he couldn't quite describe, but if he were to generalize it, it would be along the lines of ecstatic. It felt good, making him go in for another one. Even after he left, he couldn't stop thinking about it. That's how good it made him feel. Katsuki exited the bathroom and looked at Izuku's serious thinking face.

Katsuki quietly walked over then held Izuku's face, making his cheeks squished. He softly laughed at the adorable sight. He wanted to protect his soft puppy.

"Sorry, you just looked funny like this and I couldn't help but laugh." said Katsuki as he let his face go.

"Funny my ass..." muttered Izuku as his face grew hot.

"So... Shoto likes you, huh? Hear you're also going somewhere with him with your mom for the summer?" said Katsuki as he had actually overheard the conversation starting from Shoto mentioning the States.

"How did you know...?" asked Izuku in surprise.

"Last night. I heard and saw more than you think. Sure, I could've interfered when he kissed you, but I didn't think it was my place to do so, especially if you liked him back." confessed Katsuki as he looked at the taped crumpled note on his wall.

"I would never like someone like him." Izuku said without hesitation. "I like-"

Katsuki looked at Izuku who covered his mouth. What was he going to say? Something told him he wouldn't finish his thought. He sighed then told him he didn't have to continue.

"It's about time to leave anyway." Katsuki said as he picked up his bag. "Make sure you have everything. Meet you downstairs."

"I like you better." Izuku said with his eyes shut. "If I had to compare you both, you're better. Sure, you're rude, loud, sometimes egotistical and narcissistic, and have a temper, but you still have a good heart and stuff..."

Katsuki looked at Izuku who grabbed his bag and hurriedly left the room. Izuku thought he was better than Shoto. Shoto was everything a person could want in a boyfriend. Son of a top hero, wealthy in a way, good looks, had a way with words, and a romantic. While he was on the other end. He hurried after Izuku as their train would be arriving in a half hour.

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They silently sat next to each other as the train started to slow down at another stop. Izuku was too embarrassed about what he said earlier. Why did he have to go and say something like that? He glanced at Katsuki whose eyes were glued to his phone.

"Kacchan..." he called out.

"Hm? Did you want to read too?" Katsuki asked as he showed him.

It was an article titled "How To Get Over A Crush". Izuku felt a mix of two emotions: pain and relief. Katsuki leaned over to give Izuku a better view. Both were blushing at the close proximity.

"Say... do you have a crush?" Izuku asked.

"No, just thought it looked interesting. Plus I don't have time for it. It'll inhibit me from achieving my goals." Katsuki said with a shrug.

"I could never imagine you getting romantic feelings for someone. You'd scare them before they'd even consider liking you back." joked Izuku, not realizing he hurt Katsuki.

"Right..." mumbled Katsuki before moving away.

Izuku frowned as he was being distant again. Did he say something wrong? Things weren't going well so far. Katsuki's mom had wanted him to come over for a bit before going home. How could he remedy the situation?

"Hey, can we stop somewhere before heading over to your place?" Izuku asked while making puppy eyes.

"As long as we get there on time." Katsuki said as he looked at photos he had of Izuku on his phone.

Izuku discreetly glanced over then snatched his phone. When did he take it? Why did he look so good photographed from this angle?

"Can you send this to me?" Izuku asked. "Please? I really like it."

"You're not weirded out...?" Katsuki asked nervously.

"Well, a bit, but it's only one photo right?" Izuku asked before swiping. He blinked then looked at Katsuki. He looked back at the photos. "You have an album dedicated to photos of me..."

He looked at each and every one, some were of him sleeping after class dismissed, a few were of him at lunch, the rest being outside or inside the dorm. The weird factor had increased ten fold. Katsuki knew he couldn't talk his way out of this.

"Kacchan, I may be overthinking but, do you... like me in that way?" Izuku asked in a slightly higher voice as he continued to stare at his phone with reddened cheeks.

"Um, no... They were for teasing... before we became friends..." lied Katsuki.

"But a few of these were taken some time after we became friends, so you're obviously lying about these. Explain yourself!" Izuku said in a raised voice.

Other passengers started to look at them. Katsuki could feel eyes on them and the pressure emitting off of Izuku. The train started to pull into the station before theirs. He hurriedly got off, leaving his phone in Izuku's possession as he couldn't breathe. The train soon took off, taking Izuku with it.

"Fuck." Katsuki said, needing a place to unleash his emotions.

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Izuku waited inside the Bakugo household as Katsuki hadn't arrived yet. It was well past the time Mrs. Bakugo had asked for them to come.

"Where is that damn child? I can't believe he left his phone at that." she said with obvious disappointment.

Izuku clutched his phone to his chest tightly. He shouldn't have reacted that badly and drove him away. He was genuinely flattered by the first photo he had seen. It could've been considered really good fanart with the way the water was stilled, how he had his eyes closed and facing away from it. Maybe he had overthought it. Maybe they were at first for teasing then the newer ones were just to show off his friend.

Friends often took photos of each other without consent. He was letting what happened the night before affect his judgment.

"Mrs. Bakugo, I'm going to bring Katsuki home." said Izuku as he dashed out before she could reply.

˗ˏˋ❀ˋˏ ˏˋ❀ˋˏ˗

Katsuki watched the water slowly move. This was the place where he had fallen over the bridge and landed in the water. It was also the start of him intensifying the bullying of Izuku. He couldn't help the smile on his face at the thought of a young Izuku. He was cuter back then than he was now. Now he was cute, very adorable and slightly hot. Very slightly.

He walked down then sat by the bank. Izuku was probably at his place, waiting to pressure him into confessing. The original ones were indeed for teasing, but after they became friends, he had started to take them for himself to look at when he missed him. He didn't mean harm by it, yet it already wrecked everything.

The sun had started to set. He figured he'd head home and face it while he didn't have dignity. He moved to stand up then noticed someone sat beside him.

"So you were here..." Izuku muttered then looked at him.

"Look, Izuku. About the photos-" Katsuki started then quieted down as Izuku had placed his finger on his lips.

"I'm sure you have reasonable reasons for doing what you did. It can be considered stalking though. So, delete all of them. Except this one." said Izuku, pointing to the one he had became fond of.

"I'm really sorry, Izuku. I had been meaning to delete them but then they piled up. And I thought they were pretty nice after some time so I left them." said Katsuki as he deleted them. "I understand if you won't forgive me and no longer want to be friends."

"You're going too far. We're still friends, just ask for permission." said Izuku, waiting to be asked.

"Uh, may I take pictures of you...?" asked Katsuki slowly, full of uncertainty.

"Yes, on one condition. Take two good photos of me right now." Izuku said with a smile.

Katsuki lifted his phone and snapped away, unable to hide the pleased smile on his face. Izuku really was an amazing person. Readily able to trust and see the good in people.

˗ˏˋ❀ˋˏ ˏˋ❀ˋˏ˗

Katsuki held his head as his mother had hit him for the sixth time. Izuku rubbed his head in hopes of easing the pain.

"Just who do you think you are, not listening when I tell you to be here at a certain time! I didn't raise you to be like this!" she fussed as she chased him around the house.

"I said I'm sorry, geez!" Katsuki shouted as he ducked into his room.

Izuku smiled wearily as it had been awhile since he's seen Katsuki and his mom at odds. She sighed heavily then looked at Izuku.

"Why couldn't I be blessed with a child like you? Your mother is so lucky." she said with a frustrated groan. "I really wanted to make dinner with you both, but I ended up cooking all alone. Just who the hell does he take after..."

"My mom is expecting me, so I'll see myself out." said Izuku as he grabbed his bag.

"Ah, wait. Katsuki! Get out here right now and see Izuku off! Make up for running away like a wimp!" she shouted as she packed food for Izuku. "Make sure to share with your mom, okay?"

Izuku nodded then noticed Katsuki had come out of his room. His mother hit him upside his head then pushed him forward to escort Izuku out.

"Sorry about today..." Katsuki said as they reached the door. "Be safe on your way back."

Izuku silently thought then smiled.

"Walk me back home?" he asked softly.

He didn't want to part from him just yet. Katsuki looked back inside then at Izuku. He was terribly indecisive at the moment. Izuku rolled his eyes then pulled Katsuki out. He was going to walk with him after all then.

"Do you remember that day when we all went to buy hero trading cards and we both pulled All Might?" Izuku piped up as they walked.

"Yeah. I stole your card and made you do things to get it back." replied Katsuki, reflecting on how poorly he treated Izuku.

"What about the time I came over to play and you strongly insisted on being All Might?" laughed Izuku as he remembered.

"I got upset over being defeated and nearly blew up my room." Katsuki replied in shame.

"I'm sure you remember the time I ran down to help you out of the water..." said Izuku quietly.

"Of course. I know now how much you were just trying to help and look out for me." mumbled Katsuki as he punted a pebble.

"You're proof that people can change, willingly at that. Shoto was convinced you'd be nothing more than a bully to me and a rude person to everyone else with that egotistical attitude." said Izuku as he noticed his change towards others. "I like the new you a lot better."

Izuku held out his hand and Katsuki hesitated before holding it in his. They had started to hold hands a lot more, but he wondered if Izuku knew. Did he mean anything by it?

"Hey, Izuku... After seeing those photos, why'd you still come looking for me, let alone forgive me? Naturally someone would break ties..." Katsuki said as he loosened his grip.

"Why? I don't really know." said Izuku as he kept him from letting go. "What I do know is that I didn't like the idea of leaving things the way they were. I wasn't being rational and letting my emotions affect my judgment. Friends take off guard photos all the time don't they? So I should be the one apologizing."

Katsuki stopped walking, halting Izuku's movements as well. He quietly stared at him as his heart beat loudly in his ears, blood rushing to his face and his nerves working overtime.

"Izuku, could you do me a favor? Close your eyes." Katsuki asked quietly.

Izuku closed his eyes and waited. Katsuki leaned forward despite his entire body trembling like a leaf. He couldn't do it. He was too nervous, too afraid. He felt Izuku reach out and hold his shoulders.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Izuku asked innocently.

Katsuki regained some confidence then softly pressed his lips against Izuku's. Izuku curiously bit at what touched his lips to figure out what it was. Whatever it was bit him back. Katsuki pulled away with a pleased smile while silently laughing. Izuku really was clueless.

"You can open them." said Katsuki as he led him down the street.

"Something bit me on my lip." Izuku said, touching his bottom lip.

"Maybe it was a bug." he replied.

"But it was soft." Izuku pressed.

"Maybe it was a soft bug." he replied.

Izuku could see his apartment building not too far away. He stopped walking and pulled Katsuki back.

"I know you kissed me." said Izuku.

"What? Of course not. We're just friends. You don't like me, I don't like you." Katsuki rambled, hoping to throw him off.

"Kacchan, I know you did it. I briefly opened my eyes." lied Izuku, hoping it'd drag the truth out.

"Okay. Fine. I did. I only did it so you wouldn't feel bad about last night." Katsuki said with a deep blush. "There wasn't any meaning to it other than that..."

Izuku was satisfied with the answer then motioned for him to keep walking. He couldn't help but feel that there was more to it than what he let on. He discreetly touched his lips and remembered the light feelings he got when they kissed. Was it wrong for him to want to feel it again? He leaned against Katsuki as he quietly thought about how he felt about their interactions and Katsuki in general.