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Katsuki loves Izuku. Izuku loves Katsuki. It's an open secret, an unspoken truth. Everybody knows.
There's just one problem.
"Huh? Kacchan and I are just friends!"
Mina frowns and crosses her arms. "But you like him."
A blush is spreading across Izuku's cheeks. "I mean, yeah. He wouldn't be my friend if I didn't like him! And I'm really grateful that we finally got that far."
Mina doesn't seem satisfied and Izuku starts to feel a little self-conscious. "I mean, I'm not sure if Kacchan even sees it the same way! Even though I'm pretty sure that we're friends now, because we hang out a lot. But Kacchan would probably not even say that he likes me. I guess he tolerates me, but that's fine too! It's a lot better than before and as long as I get to spend some time with him, that's great!"
"But you like him!" Mina repeats after his rant with a little more urgency to get it through that broccoli hair of his. To no avail, unfortunately.
"I-... Yes?" Izuku seems unsure of what Mina is trying to get out of him. "He's cool and strong and he doesn't pick on me anymore? Not more than usual at least?"
Mina sighs and throws hands. Maybe Ochako has more luck.
"What do you want, Round Face?" Katsuki scowls at the brunette. "What the hell am I supposed to answer to that?!"
"A simple 'yes' or 'no' would probably do it," Ochako says and raises her eyebrows, unimpressed by the explosions going off on Katsuki's hands. She's lost her fear of him long ago.
"It's none of your goddamn business! What does it matter to you if I like Deku anyway?"
"One of you has to make a move, one way or the other," she replies matter-of-factly, ignoring the embarrassed flush that rises to Katsuki's face. "And we both know Izuku is not going to."
"Yeah, no shit!" The blond is already fed up with this conversation and he doesn't like where this is going. But since Ochako won't leave, his only choice is to be clear about the root of the problem and hope Round Face is going to leave it at that. "Because he's obviously not fucking interested."
Ochako stares blankly at Katsuki which doesn't help his embarrassment at all. What's her problem?
"What?!" he hisses.
"Please elaborate, which part of the way Izuku behaves makes you think he isn't interested?"
Katsuki splutters at the question. It's such a stupid question, too. But now that he tries to put it in words, he has to realize it isn't that easy.
"He-... I-..." He lets out a frustrated groan. "He doesn't deserve me!"
"Katsuki, if that is your attempt of being a self-absorbed asshole-" Ochako starts, surprisingly direct, but Katsuki interrupts her: "No!" The barely hidden desperation in his voice makes her stop in surprise.
"I mean I fucked it up..." Katsuki runs his fingers through his hair and slumps back into the chair, defeated. It's been exhausting, putting up a front. It's been a matter of time until someone poked him once too often and he finally crumbles. The weight of his feelings seems too heavy to conceal for much longer and Katsuki is almost glad it's Round Face seeing him like this. His other friends are too noisy, and he knows Ochako may understand best. He also trusts her to keep a secret.
"Maybe if I hadn't been such an ass all the way through junior high school and the beginning of U.A., there would have been a chance, but not like this. I should be glad he even lets me be his friend."
Ochako wants to scream at him, it's frustrating how oblivious those two are, but she knows it won't help either of them, and she actually understands where Katsuki is coming from, even if it surprises her to see him like that.
A small smile appears on her lips, nevertheless. "You changed quite a bit, didn't you?"
"Haaah?" The scowl is back but he's still slumped against the chair. He doesn't even want to talk about this.
"You care about him," Ochako adds, tipping her index finger against her chin in thought. "And you want the best for him, even though you believe that's not you."
Katsuki doesn't answer but there is a painful twinge in his chest. That's pretty much a summary of his current situation that he doesn't want to be reminded of.
"But maybe you should let Izuku decide what's best for him." Ochako meets Katsuki's eyes with determination. She knows if she can just get Katsuki to make a move...
The blond frowns skeptically. That would require him to talk to Deku about his feelings, and it would most certainly leave him vulnerable because there is a pretty decent chance that Deku won't understand. That Katsuki will lose what he has with him. He can't risk that.
"Are you done? Can you leave me the hell alone now?" Maybe he's a little too rough, but he just can't think about this anymore. He's not going to get over Deku any time soon, but he can at least try to push it all deep down and ignore it.
Ochako watches him closing up again and sighs. When she leaves Katsuki's room she can't help but feel disappointed. But she's not going to give up! She's going to meet up with Mina again. There must be something they can do!
It's Valentine’s Day and Katsuki fucking hates it. All the couples, all the morons swooning over each other just reminds Katsuki of the thing he wants so bad but can't have.
He raises his head and immediately regrets it because his stupid heart is doing a stupid flip when he catches sight of Izuku's stupid face and his stupid fucking smile that seems to heat him up even in this stupid cold.
Why does it have to snow in February still? And why the hell is Izuku smiling at Aoyama like he's giving him a puppy? Is that Valentine's chocolate that Deku is holding?? When did they get so close all of a sudden?
Katsuki is mad. Mad at Izuku, mad at Aoyama, but most importantly mad at himself for being mad. It's none of his business. Hell, Aoyama isn't such a bad guy. Fucking weird, but not bad.
So why does it bother Katsuki so much? The answer is pretty easy and even more frustrating.
I'm in love with-
"Kacchan!" Izuku calls out and waves, and Katsuki feels like his heart is giving out of him when he sees the freckled boy running towards him with an even wider smile if that is even possible. Fuck, he's in trouble. He can't hold it in today, his frustration and the hurt about his hopeless crush are coming up all because of this stupid day that is supposed to be about love. Katsuki tenses when Izuku comes to a stop in front of him. Thankfully, Deku doesn't look him in the eye because that would have been his death sentence for sure, but to his surprise, he can still see the blush on his cheeks.
He tries to get his hair out of his face and fumbles with the rim of his jacket. "I-... uhm... Well, I just wanted to say that I... appreciate everything you did for me lately, and... uhm..." He stutters helplessly and it's hard for Katsuki to pay attention to his words, because all he can think about is: 'cute... you're so fucking adorable, I want to kiss you.'
"And I'm really glad that we are getting along pretty well lately, at least I think so, I hope you do too, but I don't want to assume, so I just-"
"You're beautiful."
Katsuki doesn't realize he's said it out loud until he wonders why Deku suddenly stopped talking. He's staring up at Katsuki with wide eyes and open mouth, frozen in place, the little wheels inside his head turning audibly.
Oh fuck.
Katsuki takes a step back, he's going pale and cold dread is reaching out for his heart. There is no going back now, he royally fucked this up for good, no saving his heart or their relationship now.
"Fuck, I'm-... I shouldn't have said that, forget it..." Katsuki hits himself mentally. It's too late for that. He wants to turn on his heels and leave, but the least he can do now is face the consequences.
Slowly, Izuku comes back to his senses, the blush still reddening his cheeks. Katsuki can't really make sense of the grin suddenly spreading on the other's lips. Is Katsuki's mess so amusing for Deku?
"Thank you, Kacchan!" Deku says and he lifts the chocolate in his hands. "This is for you. Because I really like you."
Katsuki blinks multiple times, then he pinches himself. Just to be sure. Deku is still there, this blinding smile on his face looking directly at him, offering the blond his Valentine's chocolate.
Katsuki takes the chocolate hesitantly, and a warm feeling is swelling in his chest, threatening to suffocate him but this time he welcomes it with open arms.
"I'm gonna kiss you now, nerd," he warns and when Deku doesn't flinch back, doesn't make a break for it, he grabs him by the neck and pulls him into his chest, his lips pressed against Deku's, who melts into the kiss as if he's been waiting for this just as long.
Mina throws a glance at Ochako. "They didn't even need our help! The only thing we did was to buy the chocolate and convince Izuku to give it to him as a 'thank you' gift."
Ochako shrugs, but there is a satisfied smile on her lips. "It was bound to happen eventually. They are made for each other!"
Mina hooks her arm into her friend's and grins. "Well, then let’s give them a little privacy. They deserve it for today. And tomorrow I'm going to tease Bakugou relentlessly."