Chapter Text
The bell rang, and Aizawa clapped his hands as he pushed himself up from his desk. Chairs scraped against the floor as the class hurried to their seats. Within moments, the room settled, the air conditioning humming, filling the silent classroom.
Aizawa moved toward the board at his usual unhurried pace and picked up a piece of chalk.
“Today,” he said, “we’ll be discussing how to conduct yourselves in public as pro heroes—and how not to act like liabilities.”
Chalk scratched against the board as he wrote.
Eijiro rested his cheek against his palm, his focus drifting despite himself. His gaze slid sideways, landing on Mina a few rows ahead. When had her hair gotten that long? He narrowed his eyes, trying to remember if it had always been that way. Maybe it had. Maybe he was just bad at noticing details.
“I expect all of you to pay attention,” Aizawa continued. “I don’t want to see any fumbling in practice or worse fumbling once you’re operating in public spaces.”
Eijiro jolted back to attention. Aizawa was looking at him.
He tried to focus. Honestly, he did. But his thoughts refused to stay put.
Finals were over—hopefully passed, but if he failed, Katsuki was going to run him into the ground. His paperwork with Fatgum had been signed and sent. Best Jeanist’s offer lingered at the back of his mind, tempting, training with Katsuki would be sweet, but there was no way he was leaving Tetsutetsu or Tamaki behind.
He had goals. Big ones. He was going to climb the rankings, beat Katsuki fair and square, and become one of the greatest heroes Japan had ever seen.
Right now, though, he was stuck in class, tapping his fingers against his desk in time with a half-finished song he’d been working on with Katsuki and Kyoka, boredom gnawing at him.
He leaned down and reached for his water bottle. Something light and folded slid against his fingers. A sticky note.
Sorry, my dude. The second party needed an entry fee.
—Hanta
Eijiro stared at it for a long moment, then crumpled the note and flicked it toward Hanta’s leg. Eijiro flipped him off below his desk, but high enough so that Hanta would not miss it. Hanta flinched and turned around just in time to catch Eijiro’s frown and the gesture below the desk.
Hanta picked up the note, skimmed it, then looked back completely unapologetic. He blew Eijiro a teasing kiss from across the room.
Eijiro scowled and folded his arms, heat prickling at the back of his neck.
Today is starting fantastically. Fully awake. Irritated. And painfully sober.
He needed something else to focus on, anything to keep his thoughts from spiralling
Preferably something distracting. Preferably something hot.
Eijiro shifted in his chair, careful as he turned just enough to get a better look at Katsuki.
Katsuki wasn’t paying attention to the lesson at all. He sat slouched, idly rolling a pencil between his fingers, passing it from knuckle to knuckle with unconscious precision. The motion was quick and controlled.
This was incredibly sexy to Eijiro. He is beginning to think he has a thing for Katsuki’s hands.
He should’ve been looking at Mina. Everyone expected him to. Mina is a beautiful woman. They made sense on paper, they have history, and a narrative people would like to read about in a story, maybe even watch on TV. It was obvious how it would go. Just like Denki and Kyoka. Like Izuku and Ochaco.
That was how it was supposed to be.
He definitely should not be looking at Katsuki. Not like this. Especially when half the class seemed convinced he and Mina had something going on. Eijiro thought she might like him, maybe more than that, but for him, Mina was an inspiration. She pushed him to be better, stronger, braver. He’d tried to see her differently. Maybe he could, if he tried hard enough.
If he could forget about Katsuki. Forget his smell, the way he laughs, how he looks when he's mad, and the way he used to only think of Eijiro
“Mr Aizawa,” a voice cut in sharply, “we have a problem.”
Eijiro looked up as the classroom door creaked open. Present Mic stood in the doorway, fingers tugging anxiously at his collar. Aizawa paused mid-lecture.
“Eh?”
Present Mic shifted his weight, tapping his foot against the floor. He was smiling, but it was stretched thin and wrong. Kirishima frowned. He’d never seen Present Mic this on edge before. Sweat glistened at his temple.
Aizawa tilted his head, eyes narrowing. “What is it?”
“There’s—uh—there’s a first-year,” Present Mic said, eye darting around. “Their quirk’s out of control.”
Aizawa groaned, setting the chalk down with a dull click. “Why was a student who can’t control their quirk allowed into the U.A.?" he muttered. “What kind of quirk is it?”
Present Mic started fidgeting, hands twisting together. “It’s—well—it’s something with the nervous system. I think they broke me.”
Before Aizawa could respond, Present Mic dropped to his knees and clutched onto his leg, wailing dramatically. “What's wrong with me? I can’t control myself”.
Aizawa stared down at him, expression flat, ears faintly red. He kicked Mic off without ceremony. “Fix whatever’s wrong with you. I’m not dealing with this.” He dragged himself and Present Mic out of the room, shutting the door with a loud slam
The room exploded instantly.
Mina was at Kyoka’s desk in seconds. Someone had opened the door a little, leaving room for Mezou to sprout an extra arm, an eye blinking open at the end as it slipped out the door to follow Aizawa. Denki spun his desk around to face Eijiro, grinning like this was the most exciting thing to happen all day. Hanta followed suit, dragging his chair around with a scrape.
Eijiro leaned back in his seat, his thoughts evaporating.
Denki was grinning like a teenage boy who just found out what porn was. Eijiro raised an eyebrow, “Bro, what are you so happy about?”
“Got to get to third base, with my girl Kyoka”, Denki sang.
Hanta stared at him for a beat before his jaw dropped. “No way. Tits and everything?”
Denki nodded with a smug little hum, resting his chin on his hand as he turned away like he was waiting for applause.
Hanta made a strangled noise and immediately lost his mind. “Teach me your ways, oh great one,” he begged, flapping an arm and fanning Kaminari like a worshipper at an altar.
Denkii shoved a hand in Hanta’s face. “My ways can never be known,” he said solemnly. He pulled his hand back, clenched his fist to his chest, and bowed his head, acting like he had just sworn an oath.
Hanta backed up from Denki, a small smile appearing. “Cap. You’re lying. No girl would ever show you their jewels”
Denki snapped his head back. “Nuh uh, Kyoka did, and she’ll tell you”
Hanta turned away, crossing his arms “No, she won’t, because it is all caps.”
“Yes, she will.”
“Nuh uh.”
“Yuh uh.”
“Nuh uh”
Eijiro stopped listening.
His attention had already slid across the room, locked onto Katsuki like it always did, a habit he was never able to break
Katsuki was turned fully toward Izuku, close enough that their hands almost brushed. He wasn’t yelling. He wasn’t scowling. He was talking low, eyes intently focused, like Izuku was the only thing in the room worth his time.
Eijiro felt it in his chest before he could name it.
Katsuki smiled barely; it was quick, but Izuku saw it. Izuku always saw it. He laughed, soft and breathless, and Katsuki’s ears went red almost instantly.
That did something ugly and tight to Eijiro’s stomach.
Katsuki didn’t blush like that for just anyone.
Eijiro slouched lower in his chair, trying not to stare, failing anyway. He watched Katsuki angle himself closer, watching the way his voice dropped when he spoke again. I watched Izuku lean in without even thinking about it.
Oh.
So that’s how it is.
Behind him, Denki and Hanta’s argument escalated into outright yelling, chairs scraping as they leaned toward each other.
“Ladies, ladies—quit the catfight.”
Mina stepped between them, arms outstretched, unimpressed. Eijiro barely glanced over.
“Boys, if I may,” Mina said, then abandoned them entirely and walked over to Eijiro instead. The second she moved, Denki and Hanta promptly stumbled into each other.
“Get off me, dumbass”, Hanta snapped.
“Jeez, why does everyone call me that?” Denki muttered.
Mina rolled her eyes and flashed Eijiro finger guns. “Hey there, good-looking.”
Eijiro smiled on instinct. “What’s up, sweetcakes?”
Mina stuck her tongue out at him, and Eijiro laughed, but it came out a little hollow.
Hanta was now harassing Kyoka about their sex life, and Kyoka had come over to talk to her boyfriend, was getting increasing agitated at Hanta .Mina snapped around after hearing this and marched straight over to tell Hanta off
His eyes drifted back to Katsuki again.
Katsuki had shifted now, arm braced fully against Izuku’s desk. Too close. Definitely too close. Eijiro wants to get up and whisk Katsuki away from Izuku.
Jealousy hit Eijiro sharply.
Mina came back over to Eijiro, snapping Eijiro's attention away from Katsuki.
“We really need to find better friends, my little red teddy bear.” Mina was using her flirting voice. Eijiro knew this meant cringy nicknames and Mina lowering herself in worth. He hated it; she deserves so much better than him.
“You two are disgusting,” Hanta complained, still upset about being told off.
“Don’t be mad just because you’re single, Hanta,” Denki shot back, clapping him on the shoulder as he hauled himself up.
“We’re not together,” Eijiro muttered suddenly, not even sure who he was trying to convince. He glanced at Mina. Her face had gone faintly pink.
Denki slapped his hands over his ears. “La-la-la, can’t hear lies. Must be my second quirk.”
Hanta shoved him. Mina folded her arms, her smile turning dangerous. “You know, Denki, spreading rumours isn’t nice. I might have to remind you what happens when people lie.”
She turned toward Minoru, wiggling her fingers. “Some screams really stick with you.”
“DON’T,” Minoru yelled, rocking in his chair. “I still have nightmares!”
Laughter broke out, Mina's hands landing on Eijiro's shoulders as she tried to keep herself upright.
Eijiro laughed too, but his gaze stayed fixed across the room
Eijiro couldn’t focus. He laughed, but he was too lost. He was stuck in a losing battle against himself; he wanted to stop staring.
Katsuki is too entrancing.
Katsuki leaned his head back, his gaze finally breaking from Izuku’s
Their eyes met.
Eijiro’s stomach tightened. Katsuki’s gaze was unnerving; he seemed to be evaluating Eijiro thoroughly. He made a quiet noise and quickly looked down at his desk, but the image of Katsuki’s eyes, the line of his jaw, and that messy blond hair lingered stubbornly in his mind. It wasn’t fair how much he noticed, how much it affected him.
“You good, man? Look at Mina's boobs too long?” Hanta’s voice cut through the haze, a teasing edge as he pointed at Eijiro.
“Go fuck yourself,” Eijiro muttered, shoving him lightly away.
Hanta leaned closer, batting his eyes, “With or without you, my little red teddy bear”.
Eijiro rolled his eyes and pushed him back again. Mina glanced at him with a small smile and patted his head. “Ignore that one. He's the biggest asshole,” she said before returning to her conversation with Kyoka and Yaoyorozu.
“I have been reduced to ‘that one’” Hanta clutched his chest and fell against the desk. Faking crying into it.
Mezou’s voice suddenly cut through the classroom. “AIZAWA IS COMING BACK!” His extra arm swooped in quickly, and the class exploded into chaos. Desks were being shoved quickly, and people were running for their seats. Mina waved at Eijiro before nudging Denki away, who whined in response. Hanta pressed himself against Denki’s side, speaking in a ridiculous baby voice, and Eijiro had to fight the urge to laugh.
“Shh, princess, that means the lady won’t touch you again, but we must return to our desks”. Hanta moved the hair out of Denki’s eyes, and Denki slapped him away.
Denki shoved him back as he jumped into his chair and quickly twisted his desk back to place. Hanta followed in suit, fixing his area perfectly.
Eijiro went back to his favourite task of mind-numbingly staring at Katsuki.
Finally, the desks were back into formation, and the classroom quieted, though the low hum of chatter remained. Aizawa returned, fists clenched, eyes scanning the room. “Anyways, ignoring whatever was happening there, let’s get back to this very exciting lesson,” he said flatly, voice cutting through the silence.
Eijiro broke his eyes away from Katsuki (he was too tired to stare anymore). He rested his head between his arms, closing his eyes for a moment. But even then, Katsuki’s face appeared in his mind: red eyes, strong jaw, the shift of his shoulders as he leaned slightly toward Izuku, his goddamn hands playing with that pencil.
His chest tightened, heat rising in a way that made him suddenly very aware of every movement.
He sharply jolted up, his eyes snapping to the board as if Aizawa had just said something life-changing.
Aizawa’s attention went over to the sudden motion, his eyes narrowing at Eijiro. “You okay, Kirishima?”
“Yes, of course. Just listening,” he said quickly, forcing himself to look at the board. But his gaze kept flicking back toward Katsuki. Katsuki glanced over to Eijiro, his hands gripping his pencil tighter. Eijiro knew he was going to get an earful from him.
Even though Katsuki tries to act like a ‘bad boy’, he is just as much of a nerd and geek as Izuku, and that man loves school. Any disturbance by students to his learning was bound to get a snarky comment from Katsuki.
Once Katsuki's gaze shifted away, Eijiro began to shift his focus between Aizawa and watching Katsuki's little movements, entranced by how someone could move so much all the time. He was staring blatantly; if anyone turned over to him right now, they would know.
Know how much of a wimp Eijiro is for Katsuki.
How much he craves Katsuki's presence to be near him, even if he can not talk to him, even if Eijiro is only allowed to stare, he needs his body to be near to feel sane.
The lesson continued, but Eijiro couldn’t stop noticing: every flicker of Katsuki’s eyes, every tiny gesture, every twitch in his hand. When their gazes would meet briefly, Eijiro would hide away, snap his attention to the board as fast as possible, hoping Katsuki would think of it as an accident.
The bell rang, ending class for the day. Everyone shuffled to their feet. Denki clapped an arm around Eijiro and Hanta, grinning like he owned the hallway. “Boys, we need to go out today. Explore the area,” he said, winking. “And the ladies.”
Hanta nodded eagerly but paused, stopping Denki and Eijiro from moving, “Do you not have a girlfriend that you supposedly went to third base with?” Hanta retorted.
Denki rubbed the back of his head, “Once a hoe, always a hoe.” Denki saluted this, earning a groan from Eijiro.
Eijiro shuffled away from Hanta's grasp.“Can’t today… have tons of homework to accomplish,” he muttered.
Denki froze mid-grin, goggle-eyed. “Accomplish? Who actually says ‘accomplish’?”
“It is a very manly word,” Eijiro said, placing a hand on his chest, faking his shock tone.
“Very gay word,” Denki snorted, shrugging.
Eijiro’s eyes narrowed, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “The fuck did you say, bro?” His tone seemed cold, but the humour in his smirk made it clear this wasn’t serious.
Denki’s grin only widened. He lifted Hanta's arms away from him, getting closer to Eijiro “I believe I said it was very gay—”
Before he could finish, Eijiro lunged, tackling him lightly. They tumbled into the hall, hands grabbing, shoving, playful chaos that drew cheers from Hanta. “Fight! Full-on fight!” he yelled, bouncing on his heels.
Eijiro shoved Denki off, leaving him shuffling on the ground, “ You are the most immature person, Hanta.” Eijiro punched Hanta lightly on the shoulder. Hanta grinned, helping Denki off from where he had fallen.
From the side, Mina and Kyoka turned to watch. Denki, never one to miss an opportunity, shoved passed Hanta and went to scoop Kyoka into his arms. “Why hello there, sexy,” he said in an exaggerated, faux-sultry tone. Kyoka’s face turned crimson, her protest muffled in Denki's chest. Kyoka pushed off and stood with her arms crossed, still red in the face, staring daggers at Denki. Mina couldn’t stop giggling as she poked at Kyoka's cheek, repeatedly calling her sexy. Kyoka swatted at her, laughing and backing away.
Denki turned over with his arms spread apart and bowed as if he had pulled off a magic trick. Eijiro gave him a thumbs down, and Hanta began to loudly boo at Denki.
Denki barked back, “Hanta, you’re just jealous you have no love life!”
The sudden bark of a familiar voice made them all turn.
“Spiky hair and the rest of you damn extras, wait up!” Katsuki’s tone carried easily across the hall. Eijiro grinned; apparently, he was on Eijiro’s good side today. He wasn’t an extra for Katsuki today.
Mina, folding her arms and tapping her foot impatiently, addressing Katsuki as he finally approached. “We all have very nice individual names, you know, Blasty?”
If Katsuki hadn’t been the self-proclaimed leader of the group, they probably would have walked away while he lagged behind. But they all respected Katsuki way too much to think about leaving him behind.
Eijiro stood in front, laughing as the others groaned and huffed. His eyes met Katsuki and stayed that way even as he got closer.
When Katsuki walked with him, Eijiro and he would stay behind the group, talking about whatever Katsuki wanted to say. He loved to listen, and the innocent intimacy in those moments held weight.
“Any day now, Kacchan,” Denki called, teasing. Katsuki paused, his gaze shifting away from Eijiro over to Denki, his eye twitching.
“What did you call me, dunce-face?” he shouted.
Denki cheekily smiled, “Oh, kacchan, you have to hurry. Come on, KACCHAN.” Denki was basically screaming Katsuki's nickname, which was given by Izuku.
“I don’t know how many times I have to burn your face for you to finally get it” Katsuki lifted his hands, sparks crackling in his palm, “If you call me Kacchan, YOU WILL DIE.” Katsuki started to walk over again.
Eijiro was bent over, crying and laughing with Hanta and Mina. Kyoka was far too worried for her boyfriend to even think about laughing.
“You damned idiot”, Kyoka spat out, “He's going to damage your head even more.”Kyoka began to shove Denki away, “Run, you idiot, try to at least survive.”
Denki began to book it, charging out of the front door. The only time he looked back was to flip off Katsuki while screaming, “Don’t hurt me, KACCHAN.”
“YOU’RE GOING TO DIE, GET BACK HERE, YOU PUSSY!” Katsuki roared, launching past the group, arms outstretched as he broke through the front door, quickly catching up to Denki.
From the window, the others watched as Denki fired weak bolts toward Katsuki, but Katsuki just kept standing there, seemingly waiting for something. Katsuki's mouth moved, but Eijiro could not make out the words; he could only see Denki's face twist into pure fear.
Then, in a blur, Katsuki’s hands moved with precision. One arm stretched out while the other coiled, an explosion sending Denki sprawling. It looked like he had hit the floor hard, scrambling to his knees as Katsuki pounced. Eijiro felt his chest tighten, not just from how hilarious this whole scene was, but from the way Katsuki moved. Every motion is sharp and calculated.
Eijiro leaned forward against the windowsill, unable to tear his eyes away. Katsuki’s always drawn attention because, how easily he can dominate others in a few calculated moves. No one has ever been let down by a fight with Katsuki. Eijiro has not even noticed how good Katsuki's muscles are looking right now.
And Katsuki's muscles were some of the most manliest muscles he has ever seen.
“Ouch. That’s gotta hurt.”
Kyoka backed away instinctively, arms wrapping around her torso. Hanta, on the other hand, was having the time of his life, whooping and jumping like he’d just witnessed a championship match.
“Get him, king! Destroy the defying peasant!”
Eijiro laughed and punched Hanta lightly in the shoulder. “Damn, dude you are so two-faced.”
Hanta groaned, rubbing his arm dramatically.
The rest of the group poured out of the main building just in time to see Katsuki sitting squarely on top of Denkii’s back. Denki thrashed beneath him, slamming his hands and feet against the pavement like a toddler mid-tantrum.
“Katsuki, get off him,” Eijiro said, grabbing Katsuki’s arm and tugging.
At the same time, Kyoka crouched down and tried to pull Denkii free from underneath him.
Katsuki slapped Eijiro’s hand away without even looking. Eijiro immediately stepped back, hands raised in surrender.
“Next time you call me ‘Kacchan,’” Katsuki growled as he stood, “I will fucking kill you.” He stalked off without another glance.“Let’s get spiky hair, and the other two.” Katsuki waved his hand up in sign to follow him.
Hanta, Mina, and Eijiro exchanged a silent look before glancing down at the two still on the ground.
Hanta scratched the back of his head and took a cautious step back. “Uh… sorry, man. Don’t wanna make the king angry.” Mina waved awkwardly. Eijiro followed suit. Then all three promptly retreated.
“Traitors…” Denki muttered, latching onto Kyoka’s arm like a drowning man. She smiled down at him, not unkind. “Don’t do this again. Next time, I’m leaving with them.” She flicked him on the back of the head for emphasis.
Mina, Hanta, and Eijiro were sprawled out in the common room.
“So,” Hanta said, clapping his hands together, “where are we going tonight, Mina?”
She shrugged, legs draped lazily over Eijiro’s lap. “Dunno.”
Hanta leaned back with a groan. “Helpful.”
Mina turned to Eijiro instead, tilting her head. “You coming out, or are you staying in with Lord Explosion, yada-yada murder?”
Eijiro shook his head, resting a hand on her leg and smiling faintly. “Not tonight. Got tons of manly shit to do, like exercising, homework..”
Mina slapped her hand over his mouth, “Shut up, don’t care that much.”
Hanta groaned louder. “Everyone today is making me feel lonely.”
As if summoned, Denki and Kyoka walked in.
Denki spotted Hanta and immediately sprinted toward him, throwing his arms around him in an exaggerated embrace. “Don’t worry, my little tape monster,” he whispered loudly, planting a dramatic kiss on Hanta’s cheek. “Daddy is always here.”
“They call me gay,” Eijiro muttered.
Mina lifted her head from the couch slowly and narrowed her eyes at him.
Eijiro blinked. “What?”
“Eijiro,” Mina said flatly, “we all see your little bromance with Katsuki.”
Eijiro scoffed, lifting his hands from her leg. He wasn’t overly touchy with Katsuki,actually, he tried very hard not to be.
Physical touch was his love language. So in his head, if he didn’t touch Katsuki, no one would know. Simple.
Except sometimes, he couldn’t help it.
He let his friends climb all over him without a second thought, and returned the affection easily. But Katsuki hated being touched. Eijiro knew that. He respected it. Mostly.
Still, when Katsuki was being soft, when he did something unexpectedly sweet, Eijiro couldn’t stop himself from slinging an arm around him, even if it earned him a shove to the ground. And when Katsuki wore that suit for him? Eijiro had been riding that high for days.
Katsuki radiated the most aggressively masculine energy Eijiro had ever encountered, and it did something to him.
That didn’t mean Eijiro liked being called gay.
He didn’t want anyone knowing how he got himself off. And if that happened to involve Katsuki in a suit Eijiro had picked out? Yeah. They really didn’t need to know that.
He wasn’t gay. He just… liked masculinity. He could like tits, too. Totally.
Mina kicked him in the chest.
“Ow bro, what the hell?” Eijiro protested, pushing her leg away. She crossed her arms and frowned. “Don’t ‘bro’ me. I’m trying to get your attention.” He stuck out his hand. She slapped it away and stuck her tongue out.
Mina pushed herself up and plopped down next to Hanta instead. “Hey there, pinkie.” Hanta waggled his eyebrows. Mina shoved his face away with a groan of disgust.
“I’m going to my room,” Eijiro announced, standing and waving.
The rest of them immediately started whining and begging him to stay.
He ignored them and headed for the elevator.
Katsuki passed by him in the hall.
Eijiro couldn’t mess this up.
“Hey, Kats, how yo—”
Katsuki flipped him off without breaking stride.
Eijiro stopped dead, staring after him.
Sometimes he really wondered why he found Katsuki so attractive.
Maybe he should ask Mina to be meaner to him.
He shook his head and pressed the elevator button.