Izuku and Katsuki nodded off in class and gained the attention of their classmates, especially Shoto. He didn't like it, but he had to thank Katsuki. Their classmates poked them awake, hoping they wouldn't fall asleep.

"You'll all learn more about this when you go into real combat with the pros against villains. Never take any villain lightly." said Mr. Aizawa before dismissing them for lunch and discussing what they'd do in the afternoon.

Shoto left his seat after Mr. Aizawa left the classroom. He stood in between Katsuki's and Izuku's seats then gently tapped him.

"Let's eat together." Shoto said as he looked at the waking beauty.

"Let's heat moreover?" Izuku repeated back to him.

"No, eat." Shoto said while making gestures.

"Oh. You can eat with us." Izuku replied with a smile.

He left his seat then moved to wake Katsuki. Shoto's envy grew.

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Izuku sat down and Shoto immediately followed, blocking Katsuki from sitting beside him. Ochako and Tenya looked at each other as they could tell a storm would brew at their table.

"So, finally decided to eat with us again?" Ochako said with a smile.

"I missed you all. So, I have a few ideas I'd want to try during training but I can't decide which." Shoto said, ignoring the fact Katsuki was staring him down.

Izuku quietly listened then glanced in Katsuki's direction. He seemed into the conversation. Izuku was contented to see that they were somewhat getting along. It was then Katsuki leapt from his seat patting his pants down.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! Stay still and let me freeze it over." Shoto said with worry on his face.

"Asshole, you did it on purpose!" Katsuki complained as he watched him put out the flames.

"What? Are you accusing me without proof?" Shoto asked with a sad face.

Everyone looked at Katsuki. Katsuki sighed heavily then mumbled a "thank you" before taking his seat again. Izuku looked at Shoto who went back to chatting as if nothing happened. Were they really starting to get along?

"Oh, Izuku." Shoto said then looked at him. Izuku met his eyes, wondering what he had to say. Shoto leaned closer, making sure no one else could hear. "Stay behind in the classroom after our last class."

Izuku nodded and then thought of things he possibly had to say. Was there a problem with their summer plans? Was it something he trusted him to hear only?

"It's nice to see you both getting along again." Tenya said with a smile while looking at Shoto and Izuku.

"We had a fight but we've made up. I'm glad we can be close again." Shoto said then put his arm around Izuku.

Katsuki was too busy staring them down and missed his tray. He ended up hitting it, spooking him in the process and sending his utensils flying. His spoon hit Mina square on the head.

"Is everything okay, Kacchan?" Izuku asked.

"Peachy." he replied then pushed his lunch away from him.

Shoto cheered on the inside while keeping his calm exterior. It felt good getting back at him. It was his time to regain back everything Katsuki had stolen from him with his goody two shoes act. He was going to prove with cold, hard facts that people couldn't change.

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Shoto easily wormed his way in between the two without making it suspicious to Izuku. He still had a lot of work ahead of him if he wanted to break down the wall Katsuki had built up.

"Let me help you with those." said Shoto despite already taking half.

"You're being more helpful than usual. You want me to do something don't you?" Izuku asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not at all. It's what friends do. I treasure my friendship with you and I want you to know that." Shoto said with a warm smile.

Izuku smiled back then tripped over his own feet, causing him to lose balance. Shoto dropped everything to catch him and keep him from falling.

"Clumsy aren't you?" asked Shoto with a laugh.

"Ah, now we have to pick everything up... Sorry." Izuku apologized as he started to pick up stray papers.

"It's fine. Just means more time spent together." replied Shoto as he stacked books.

"Hey, you know that place you took me to before?" Izuku mentioned as they started to walk again. Shoto nodded. "Can we go back? I really liked it there."

"Of course we can. Just tell me when." Shoto said with bright eyes.

Izuku couldn't help but chuckle at how he resembled an excited puppy. He liked Shoto like this. He was... cute.

"Izuku? Where to now?" Shoto asked, noticing he was spacing out.

"Huh? Oh... this room..." Izuku muttered in embarrassment at being caught spacing out again.

"Hey! There you both are!" shouted Denki from down the hall. They waited for him to catch up so he wouldn't have to shout. "Sneaking off to do some romantic shit huh?"

"Yes." "No." they said at the same time then looked at each other.

Denki looked at the both of them in confusion. Who was telling the truth?

"Excuse us for a moment." Izuku said then ushered Shoto inside the room. "What do you mean yes?"

"It was just a joke, Izu. Lighten up." replied Shoto quietly as he placed the books down. "You know they're not going to stop teasing us about being in love, or a couple and all."

"Even still..." Izuku said with a pout.

Shoto held his hands. Izuku kept still, unsure of what was going on.

"Just go with the flow. We both know they don't really mean it." said Shoto with a soft smile.

Izuku melted. Shoto didn't have to try to be charming. He just was naturally. He was slightly envious.

"Okay..." muttered Izuku as he pulled his hands away, only to have one placed over Shoto's heart.

"Despite everything they'll say and do, I promise you that I'll never do anything you don't like nor want to do because of it. I swear on this beating heart of mine." Shoto said, hoping to sway his heart.

Izuku could feel his heart beating fast. Or was it his own? It was a knock on the door that brought them back to their senses. Izuku pulled away and his eyes darted around before quickly leaving. Shoto stayed still for a bit before smiling. It was working.

˗ˏˋ❀ˋˏ ˏˋ❀ˋˏ˗

Katsuki tapped his pen against his paper, making black dots. He looked it over before deciding to make it bigger. He was finally satisfied. He turned to show Izuku then frowned when he was busy staring off out the window.

"Nerd." he called out. No response. "Idiot." No response. "Deku."

Izuku finally turned to look at him.

"Why are you-" Katsuki started then was called out by the teacher.

He turned around and fumed in his seat. Izuku was a daydreamer, but at that moment he looked sad, troubled even. Knowing Izuku, he'd come off and assure others he was okay when in reality he was in immense pain. He hated that part most about him but admired him greatly for it as well.

Class was dismissed and everyone excitedly packed up to head back to their rooms. Katsuki turned around and saw him packing up as well.

"Give me a second and we can head back together." Katsuki said as he packed up.

"No need. I have things to do. Go on without me." said Izuku as he left his seat.

"O... kay..." Katsuki said with a frown.

Was he upset that he called him names? He knew he should've called him by his name.

Shoto quietly stayed in his seat as the last person left. Izuku had entered.

"Ready?" Shoto asked as he grabbed his bag then walked over to him.

"What for? You never told me why." Izuku said as he walked by his side.

"Not knowing makes the journey more fun doesn't it?" Shoto said with a wink.

Izuku remained silent. He was happy, but he didn't feel it. Something was missing. Out of place. He couldn't figure it out. He thought back to his conversation with Momo and Katsuki immediately came to mind. It was about him after all.

"Izuku? Hello?" Shoto said as he kept him from falling down the stairs of U.A.

"Huh? Oh. We're heading off campus?" Izuku asked as they walked down.

"Yep. I promise we'll be back before 8." said Shoto with pep in his step.

Izuku smiled then pursed his lips while thinking. Did he really want to go to a unknown location with Shoto? He trusted him, that much was true. He started to slow down to the point one could claim he wasn't walking at all.

"Izuku, is everything okay? You don't look well. Should we head back?" asked Shoto with worry.

"I'm fine. I promise." Izuku replied then caught up to him.

He was just thinking too much. He needed to relax.

˗ˏˋ❀ˋˏ ˏˋ❀ˋˏ˗

Izuku smiled happily as it was the place he had wanted to visit again. He looked at Shoto with sparkling eyes as they were seated.

"Were you already planning to bring me here?" Izuku asked happily.

"Yep. Thought it'd be nice to have some one on one without fear of interruption. I want to hear everything you feel like getting off your chest." said Shoto as he sat forward.

Izuku excitedly told him everything, excluding any kind of mention of Katsuki. He knew they probably still weren't on good terms.

"Tell me about Ba- Katsuki too. A friend of yours is a friend of mine. I should've acted that way from the start." said Shoto with a small smile.

"He's really nice to me and everyone else too compared to before. It's like he hit his head or something. I'm not complaining about it, but it's kind of strange sometimes. We've had some bonding moments and we're friends now actually." Izuku said proudly. "He doesn't call me Deku in a demeaning way anymore either if you couldn't tell."

"Wow, he's treating you like a person. What character growth. If only it was real." Shoto said with a sigh.

"What do you mean...?" Izuku asked cautiously.

"I'm not trying to start anything, I swear. It's just, like you said, it's strange. Suddenly he's being nice to people who he always called irrelevant or extras, especially you who he's bullied for countless years. Don't you think he's up to something?" said Shoto, trying to manipulate and warp Izuku's mind. "Think about it. I heard last night he found you. Did he ask something of you then?"

"Yeah. To not blindly search around, especially not eating or drinking for a long while again." Izuku replied.

"But you wouldn't have been in such a state had he not acted the way he did. Don't you agree? So isn't it selfish of him to ask that of you when he was the main reason you ended up that way?" Shoto said with a disgusted look.

Izuku couldn't deny the points Shoto made. Had Katsuki answered his phone, he wouldn't have gone out in search of him. Shoto smiled evilly behind his hand as he could see the gears turning in Izuku's head. He watched as Izuku took out his phone and started using it.

Shoto happily chatted with Izuku as they did a little shopping before heading back. Izuku was in a better mood ever since he put his phone away after using it back at the cafe.

"How's Shoku doing?" Izuku asked as he noticed a child's shirt with a cat on it.

"Pretty good. He misses his other dad." Shoto replied as he eyed a small plush bear. "Come visit him more often."

"Of course. How about today?" Izuku asked excitedly.

"I have no qualms about it." said Shoto then showed him the red plush. "Do you think it's cute enough? I want to give it to someone I like."

"I think it's cute." said Izuku then registered his words. "Someone you like? Does that mean..."

Shoto had already walked over to buy it. Izuku left the store and waited outside for him. Shoto stepped out then handed the bag to him.

"For someone I like." said Shoto with a grin.

He was speechless. What would happen if he accepted it? What if he didn't? Exactly how did he mean the word like?

"Um, how do you mean...?" he asked quietly as they made their way back to U.A.

"Romantically. I already sorta kinda confessed. Remember?" Shoto said while rubbing his neck. "Maybe I should do it properly next time."

"Next time?" Izuku asked with flushed cheeks.

"I won't tell you when. Can't have you running away now can I?" said Shoto then laughed.

Izuku held the bag tighter then relaxed. He liked this. Everything about it was nice. He looked at Shoto then briefly closed his eyes. He wanted this.

˗ˏˋ❀ˋˏ ˏˋ❀ˋˏ˗

Shoku mewed as he attacked the string dangling above him. The three of them were startled by the sound of loud and harsh knocking. Shoku had scampered into the open closet while Izuku chased after him to comfort him. Shoto unlocked the door then sighed at the sorry sight.

"Where is he, asshole? I know you did something to him!" Katsuki fussed as he tried looking into the room.

"Hey, Izu. Your precious Kacchan wants to talk." Shoto said then gave him a smirk. "Good luck."

Izuku walked over to the door with Shoku in his arms. Katsuki suddenly became speechless at the sight of Izuku's serious face.

"Why didn't you answer your phone...?" he finally asked.

"Sounds familiar doesn't it?" Izuku countered then set Shoku free.

Shoto covered his mouth as his body shook from internal laughter. This was going to be good.

"Well, yeah, but I was moody and didn't want to lash out at you." Katsuki confessed.

"And so was I." Izuku responded.

"Why did you send those messages?" he asked.

"Why else would I send someone a message? Do you need me to read it for you? Explain them?" Izuku said, wondering why he wasn't getting it.

"No, but-" Katsuki started then had the door shut in his face. "Izuku..."

"You don't want to hear him out more?" Shoto asked as he locked the door.

"I'm tired. I'm taking a nap." said Izuku before collapsing onto his bed.

Shoto walked over to him then moved him into a more comfortable position. He hesitated before leaning down and pressing a kiss to his forehead. This was how things were supposed to be.