~Time skip: 1 week~

Not much had changed between Katsuki and Izuku, mostly because Shoto was always intervening. Izuku didn't seem to notice it, but Katsuki did.

"Yo, D- Izuku." Katsuki called out as class had finished.

"Oh, hey. What's up?" Izuku asked, feeling his heart jump a bit.

"Are you sure you and Todoroki don't have anything going on?" Katsuki asked as it was really starting to appear suspicious.

"I'm 100% being honest. We're just friends. Why does it matter though?" asked Izuku, wondering if there was something he knew.

"It doesn't. It's just... I'd have to... do... not be near you?" said Katsuki, trying not to expose his real thought.

"Uh, okay? Why?" Izuku pressed.

"Forget it." said Katsuki as he walked away.

Izuku left his spot and pulled him back. He was breaking the rule.

"Kacchan, I said speak your mind, remember?" Izuku said.

"I do..." muttered Katsuki. "Todoroki wouldn't want me near you if you're a thing. That's all."

"Silly... You worry too much about Shoto. Focus on the important things to you." said Izuku smiling warmly.

Katsuki shifted Izuku's hold to his hand and faced him.

"What if I am, but it keeps moving further from me?" asked Katsuki in a serious tone.

Izuku frowned as he could see the sadness in his eyes that wasn't present in his face. If he knew what he was talking about, he could probably help a bit more. He gave his hand a little squeeze.

"How important is it to you?" he asked.

"Very important..." he replied.

"Then why are you hesitating? Go and catch up with it. Letting it get away will only hurt you in the long run." Izuku said with an eye smile.

Katsuki bit his bottom lip as he gripped Izuku's hand. Katsuki suddenly hugged him and caused him to panic as other students were still lingering in the training area. He hesitated a lot before patting his back. He was crying. Katsuki was a silent crier as he didn't want people to see his softer and vulnerable side.

"I'm not sure why you're crying but, I hope things get better. Don't be afraid to talk to me about things." said Izuku as he gave his head brief pats.

"Don't tell anyone about this... please..." Katsuki pleaded.

"My lips are sealed." replied Izuku as he didn't mind the length of the hug much.

˗ˏˋ❀ˋˏ ˏˋ❀ˋˏ˗

"I heard you and Katsuki were the last the leave. What happened?" Shoto asked as they walked back to their housing building.

"Oh. We were talking about plans for going home tomorrow. My mom has been asking for our families to have dinner together." said Izuku.

It wasn't a lie, but a half truth. It seemed to have fooled Shoto. He half listened to him as he thought back to earlier.

"What if I am, but it keeps moving further from me?"

What was the thing very important to him? It obviously wasn't about his family. Was a friend? Was it his goal of becoming a top hero? He had another thought but it didn't seem plausible. Katsuki wasn't the type to love romantically. It wasn't like he could just ask either.

"Izuku, we're at your door." said Shoto loudly.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah, bye." muttered Izuku as he headed inside.

Shoto stuck his foot in the door as something was off.

"Is something bothering you?" asked Shoto with concern.

"How do you get someone to tell you something without directly asking about it?" asked Izuku as he opened the door.

"Ask things that might be related to it? Basically, beat around the bush and hope for the best." replied Shoto.

"Ah, that was all. I'd like to get a nap in so do you mind...?" asked Izuku.

Izuku fully closed his door and waited. He hasn't ever been to Katsuki's room before, but today might be the first. He peeked out and confirmed Shoto wasn't around and creeped upstairs to Katsuki's room. He knocked and waited. And waited.

"Kacchan...?" he called out quietly.

The door finally opened and Katsuki had appeared rubbing his eye. He was about to curse whoever it was out until he recognized who it was.

"You're here all of a sudden... What did I do now?" asked Katsuki.

"Can I come in? I want to ask you something in private." said Izuku as he looked down the hall.

"Sure..." he replied as he stepped aside.

Izuku quietly looked around. Katsuki had a few All Might posters up and a small bobblehead on his desk. His room was tamer compared to his. A few other knickknacks sat on his desk as well.

"Why are you looking so surprised for? What were you expecting to see?" Katsuki asked as he climbed back into bed.

"I don't know, death metal stuff? Anything relating to oppression and death?" said Izuku. "Your taste hasn't changed huh."

"At least I'm not an All Might otaku." snapped Katsuki, visibly offended.

"Sorry, sorry. So, the reason I wanted to talk in private... it's about earlier..." said Izuku as he messed with the bobble head.

"How early are we talking?" Katsuki asked, intrigued by what he wanted to talk about.

"We all have things important to us. And some we consider very important. For as long as I've known you, I never really knew what you considered important besides All Might. If there's anything I do know, you don't particularly care for people you consider weak, like me." said Izuku, hoping something he said would strike a nerve.

He noticed a change when he mentioned himself. Should he continue to talk about himself? He noticed Katsuki was going to start talking, so he quickly continued.

"I have a lot of things that I feel are important to me. My family is important to me, especially my mom, and so are my close friends. Getting stronger and becoming a pro hero is important to me as well." said Izuku, noticing Katsuki's face fell slightly. "But you wouldn't care."

"Now you're talking out of your ass." said Katsuki with a frown. "Of course I'd care... about you. We're friends."

"Really? Oh right, we did become friends recently." said Izuku with a smile. "Hey, tell me. What's important to you?"

"Well, same as you. Getting stronger and becoming a pro hero. I don't really have friends that I'm particularly fond of. I sort of like my family..." muttered Katsuki then glanced at Izuku. "Are you thinking of what I said earlier?"

Izuku froze and that was the nail in coffin for Katsuki. He didn't understand why he didn't just come out with it. He soon realized why he didn't. Usually he'd be avoidant of it and that was the Katsuki he was used to.

"I guess I've been caught, haha..." said Izuku sheepishly. "I figured you wouldn't answer me if I asked directly."

"We're friends now. Don't hesitate..." said Katsuki as he sat cross legged.

"Well, could you answer it now?" asked Izuku.

Could he tell him? His heart rate picked up and he could hear it beating in his ears. He just needed to say one word. All he needed was to say his name. The thought of it made him more nervous. Katsuki ultimately couldn't bring himself to say it.

"I can't tell you..." he mumbled before hiding under his sheets.

"Oh. I won't press then. Well, that's all I wanted to talk about, so I'll take my leave." Izuku said as he stood up.

Katsuki started to panic as his chance was slipping away. Say it. He heard the lock unlocking. Say it. He heard the door opening. Say it. He heard the door close. You fucking idiot. He jumped out of bed and ran after Izuku.

"You." he said loudly.

"Me?" Izuku said in confusion.

"Yes, you..." Katsuki said, hoping he'd understand.

It finally clicked in Izuku's mind. What important thing his focus was on. No, what important person his focus was on. Kirishima had poked his head out to see what was going on.

"Go back in your room. This is a man to man conversation." Katsuki barked.

"Calm down. Just wanted to make sure everything was okay since you were talking loudly." Eijiro said weakly before going back in.

Izuku ran and Katsuki watched in silence. He growled in anger as he slammed his door shut. Everything was fine until Eijiro had to butt in. He slid down his door as his mental state and emotions were a mess. He felt sick due to extreme nerves. He was never going to be that bold again.