Red fish

He met him during an assembly first year in middle school, all students gathered around while a thunderous voice bragged about how great he was, Bakugou Katsuki took the stage receiving a prize for something he doesn’t even remember. The guy proclaimed that everybody were just stepping stones, and that he was going to become number one.

Eijirou, like many, initially dismissed the blond as an arrogant prick. His friends scoffed and rolled their eyes to his growls, his classmates eyed him up and down, even the teachers were exasperated by his “I’m better than anyone” attitude, thus reinforcing his belief that the blond was unmanly. But as days passed, he began to observe Bakugou, noticing that the guy was always alone, never making a friend since he entered school, tugging at Eijirou's empathy.

Sometimes, when he saw the blond eating alone at the cafeteria, a thought invaded him. He imagined himself taking a seat beside Bakugou, trying to start a conversation, and both of them laughing together becoming friends. But that daydream died every time he yelled at someone to stop staring at him or that they were chewing too loud, when his friends began gossiping about his attitude.

Then they entered second year, and although Bakugou's attitude had mellowed out a bit, it was still infuriating when he started a screaming match with anyone who contradicted him. They were in the same classroom now, Eijirou noticing more about Bakugou. He saw how the blond often did his assignments alone, and when there was work in groups, people left him to do all the job, which Bakugou made evident by exposing them on presentation day. Eijirou respected that about Bakugou; he wished he had the guts to do the same with his friends.

Don't get him wrong, Eijirou had good friends, but sometimes he wished they wouldn’t let him do all the group assignments by himself, or when the topic was something he was bad at, he wished his friends didn't make jokes about how he shouldn't be involved unless they all wanted a bad grade. Despite all that, he rather be a team with them than being alone, unlike Bakugou, he wasn’t comfortable with loneliness.

One day, during class, the teacher announced, "You’ll have to form teams in pairs." As everyone started to get up to their friends, the teacher intervened, "I’ll assign them."

Groans filled the room. No one liked being paired up by the teacher because it meant that 1. They wouldn't have the same fun and 2. There was always the risk of being partnered with Bakugou, unless...

“I’ll work alone,” the blond declared without permission and without shame. It was sort of manly.

The teacher denied Bakugou's request, telling him that he, of all people, should make an effort to work in a team. Just as Bakugou was about to argue, the teacher warned him that fighting would only worsen his grade. With that, he stayed silent.

The teacher then named the teams alphabetically, ensuring that Bakugou would be one of the first ones called. As she paused at Bakugou's name, everyone waited with their hearts pounding in their throats.

"Bakugou Katsuki and..." she announced slowly.

Time stopped.

"Eijirou Kirishima," she concluded.

He could see how everybody else released their breaths, some even hi-fiving each other in relief that they didn't have to be teamed up with Bakugou who stared out of the window, completely unfazed. Meanwhile, Kirishima just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

They were given some time to group up and decide what they were going to do. Some classmates stood eagerly, while others seemed hesitant. Eijirou walked slowly, not keen on working with the gremlin, who was known for throwing his team under the bus when they didn’t meet his standards. Damn it, the project was on chemistry and it was his worst subject. Was he going to fail?

Eijirou walked towards Bakugou's seat, where the blond was already scribbling some notes, deep in concentration.

"Hey," Eijirou said weakly. At the sound of his voice, Bakugou looked up, eyeing him up and down.

"I already have a subject, just do your part and don’t weigh me down," said the blond, returning his attention to his notes.

"Hey!" said Eijirou more indignantly, feeling a boiling sensation inside him at Bakugou's dismissive attitude. "We should agree on a theme together."

He scoffed. "Oh yeah? And pray tell, what fucking ideas you have?" he said, narrowing his eyes. When nothing came out of Eijirou's mouth, Bakugou continued, "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Listen—"

"No, you listen," Bakugou interrupted. "If I could do this project alone, I would have. But now I’m stuck with you, so you better stay silent, follow my lead, and don’t hold me back unless you want to pass middle school."

Eijirou watched the floor during Bakugou's outburst, flinching slightly at each jab the blond sent his way. It wasn’t fair. Why did he have to be partnered up with him? Why couldn’t he be paired with Tomo, or Gunta, or anyone else? Anyone would have been better than Bakugou.

He took his arm and started writing down some numbers. Eijirou felt numb enough to even care.

"My phone, text me so I can send you your part."

And that was it. The classes ended, and everybody went to their homes.

"Ei-chan, dude, how was it?" Eijirou's friends, Tomo and Gunta, approached him eagerly. He stayed silent for a moment, feeling the weight of his encounter with Bakugou.

"That bad, huh?" Tomo said with a smirk, his lips holding back a snort. Eijirou gulped a little, his cheeks turning red.

“He really has a…” he struggled to find the right words “Unmanly personality”

Both Gunta and Tomo laughed at that “No kidding” said gunta.

“Well, the bright side is that he’ll do all the hard work, all you gotta do is what he says” said Tomo

“But-” he was interrupted by Gunta.

“Chemistry is your worst subject man, you really should be happy, you won’t fail this time”

“But” he tried again, but was now interrupted by Tomo.

“Can you imagine what project you would have done if you were to do it alone” he laughed “I can imagine you talking about how the lonesome riot is good for your brain chemistry”

“Dude, I can see that, “ laughed Gunta.

Eijirou stood still as the others walked ahead of him. They were at the point where they took separate paths to go home. He began thinking about everything, feeling down about how Bakugou reacted, how his friends reacted. Maybe they were right, maybe he should shut up and just follow Bakugou's lead. It’s not like he could come up with something smart.

The next day, he expected to be yelled at for never sending a message or calling. He spent all day sulking about how he was stuck and how Bakugou was going to kill him. But instead of the berating he expected, he encountered something else. Sure, Bakugou was yelling, but it wasn’t his usual mean nicknames.

"Don't hold me back," Bakugou said loud and clear, looking him in the eye to get his point across.

"Y-yes," said Eijirou.

The blond started talking about how they could do a project on minerals, mentioning how he watched Eijirou grab random rocks on the road during school trips, and how those could be of help by doing a chemical analysis on the soil and stuff. Eijirou didn’t understand much of the science and was still put off by the revelation that Bakugou knew something about him.

His face flushed with embarrassment. It wasn’t a secret, and it wasn’t intended to stay as one. But he knew it was kind of weird, collecting rocks from each trip. The first time his friends caught him grabbing a random rock, they had asked why in a judgy tone, making him feel silly for his hobby. Since then, he had tried to stay behind in group outings to discreetly grab the ones he liked. The thought that someone like Bakugou had noticed made him feel exposed and a little self-conscious. He was probably going to laugh at him.

"You... you noticed that?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise and a hint of vulnerability.

"Yeah, dumbass. It's hard not to notice when you're always lagging behind to pick up rocks," Bakugou retorted, but there was no malice in his tone.

Eijirou blinked. He didn’t think someone like him would react that nonchalantly.

Guess he was mistaken.

They spent a lot of time together after class, and it wasn’t as awful as he first thought. Actually, it was kind of fun seeing that glint in Bakugou's eyes every time he understood and gave more input into the project.

They agreed to meet each other after school, relieved to find that they didn’t live far from each other, so there was some common ground. At first, they met in libraries or cafés, not yet trusting each other enough to meet at home.

Eijirou was surprised by how light he felt. He expected Bakugou to treat him like a dumbass or to boss him around, but it wasn’t like that. Every new idea he had, Bakugou would find a way to incorporate it into their project, and every time he didn’t understand something, Bakugou made sure to explain it to him with force, his relentless drive pushed Eijirou to work harder than he ever had before.

During their first few meetings, Bakugou was all business, diving into the work with determination. But as they began to make progress, Eijirou noticed a shift.

Bakugou began to allow some resting times, during which they could do anything non-related to the project. At first, they would just look at their phones, watching some memes and stuff, but the silence was a little bit uncomfortable. Who would have thought that five minutes were an eternity?

So, Eijirou began talking about their likes and dislikes. He expected Bakugou to be dismissive, but no, he began opening up about some comics. That brought Eijirou's attention.

He loved comics, especially the Crimson Riot ones. Bakugou, too, had read them but preferred the ones starring All Might, a more popular hero, though they both loved when they would team up. All Might with his superpowers and Crimson Riot with his detective work made a really good team.

"I want to be like him," said Bakugou.

"You wanna be a teacher?" Eijirou asked. All Might secret Identity was a teacher in a prestigious school.

"No, idiot," Bakugou rolled his eyes. "I want to be number one, the best at everything." He puffed out his chest “Like All Might”

"Dude, I think you already are," Eijirou said, laughing because it was true. Bakugou had knowledge about almost everything. He knew geology, physics, even art.

"I know. You’re lucky to have me, shitty hair," Bakugou said, ruffling his black hair.

"Stop it. My hair’s just long, not shitty."

Their five minutes finished, but Eijirou didn’t mind. Every day, those five minutes were a treasured moment.

One afternoon, they sat at a corner table in the library, surrounded by books on minerals and geology. Bakugou explained the properties of different rocks with such intensity that Eijirou couldn’t help but be captivated.

"Look at this," Bakugou said, eyes gleaming as he showed Eijirou a diagram of geo structures. "If we analyze the soil around these rocks, we can determine the mineral content and their formation process. It's fucking fascinating."

Eijirou nodded, a smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, it really is. I never thought about rocks like this before."

They laughed over ridiculous scientific terms and shared snacks as they poured over their notes.

“I didn’t know there was a rock named Dickite,” Eijirou laughed. “Dude, why would you name a rock like that?”

“Have you seen it?” Bakugou said, pulling out his phone.

“Ooooh! Dude! That looks gross,” Eijirou laughed again.

Bakugou’s intensity and dedication made the project come alive. Each new discovery felt like a small victory, a victory he worked for, and Eijirou began to feel a sense of pride in their work.

His enthusiasm was contagious, and Eijirou loved every time they would talk about anything, he even blew off his friends sometimes to spend more time with Bakugou. Tomo and Gunta understood, of course. They thought he didn’t want to fail chemistry again, so they let him be. Eijirou found himself looking forward to their study sessions, not just for the project, but because he genuinely enjoyed Bakugou’s company. He loved feeling that intensity and passion, he was learning a lot, not just about rocks, but about Bakugou.

The blond’s intense focus was balanced by moments of unexpected humor. They would spend hours poring over their notes, bouncing ideas off each other, and refining their work.

Bakugou leaned back in his chair and sighed. “You know, shitty hair, this project might actually turn out decent.”

Eijirou grinned. “Yeah, thanks to you. You’ve been amazing.”

Bakugou scoffed, a hint of a blush on his face. “Whatever. Just don’t screw it up.”

They went on a mountain trip with Katsuki’s family to gather more rocks. Eijirou had a chance to meet Katsuki’s parents; his mother was really loud, but that didn’t matter. He was used to it and even welcomed it. They camped at the top of the mountain, making a bonfire and exchanging stories.

Around the campfire, Katsuki’s mom, Mitsuki, told them embarrassing stories from Katsuki’s childhood, much to the blond's annoyance. Eijirou laughed heartily, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. The night sky was clear, filled with stars, and Katsuki, despite his usual brashness, pointed out constellations with surprising gentleness.

As the fire died down and the night grew quieter, Eijirou found himself lying next to Katsuki, staring up at the vast sky.

"Hey, Bakugou," Eijirou began hesitantly.

"What, you want more s'mores? Careful, you’re going to ruin your already shitty teeth," the blond teased.

Eijirou laughed. "No." He turned to the dying flames. "It’s just…sometimes, it feels that... I'm not doing enough, ya know?"

Bakugou stayed silent, giving him space to elaborate.

"I feel like you’re doing way more than me... and I don’t know..."

"You also made your fair share on this project," Bakugou interjected.”You think I would invite you here if you didn’t?”

"Yeah, but you taught me, and..." He scratched his neck. "It doesn’t feel like I did enough. I kinda feel useless."

Bakugou looked up at the stars, the wind was a little bit chilly so he hugged himself, while Eijirou felt ashamed of what he just said. Maybe he was right; he was useless, and Bakugou couldn’t wait to get rid of him and start doing projects alone, and—

"Then don’t," said Bakugou in a soft voice.

"Huh?" Eijirou didn’t understand.

"Don’t be useless," Katsuki turned his head to look at him, eyes narrowing slightly before softening. "Do more. Keep up. You aren’t holding me down, now try to surpass me, i know you can, you know more about this stuff than me”

Eijirou blushed at the statement, feeling a warmth in his chest that had nothing to do with the fire. “You really are the best, Bakugou.”

“Yeah, I know,” Bakugou said with a smirk. “I know a lot of stuff.”

Eijirou shook his head, a small smile on his lips, he put an arm around Katsuki's “Yeah, but not only that. You really are a good friend.”

Bakugou’s eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, he was silent. He had never had someone call him a friend before. A small, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, a rare tenderness in his expression.

“Thanks, shitty hair,” he said softly, turning his gaze back to the stars.

"I told you my hair is just long," Eijirou retorted.

They lay there in comfortable silence, until slumber took them.

The next morning, they packed up their campsite, getting ready to head back. As they descended the mountain, Bakugou’s parents moved ahead, allowing Bakugou and Eijirou to linger and check for any interesting rocks they might have missed.

Bakugou suddenly stopped, lost in thought.

“We need a final blow,” he muttered.

“What?” Eijirou asked, confused by Bakugou's sudden outburst..

“We fucking need a final blow,” Bakugou repeated. “This isn’t enough to win.”

“Win? But it’s only an assignment,” Eijirou said, perplexed.

Bakugou looked at him like he’d been betrayed, then fell silent for the rest of the descent. The look of disappointment on his face haunted Eijirou, making him feel like he had messed up badly. It’s true that it was only an assignment, but he also knew that his friend did everything with a %100, even if it wasn’t a competition Bakugou wouldn’t accept anything less than perfect, but how to do that? He had to do something before it was too late.

As they reached the base of the mountain, Bakugou started to walk away, waving a casual goodbye.

“Crystals!” Eijirou murmured, then louder, “Crystals!”

Bakugou stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him.

“You’re a fucking genius!” Bakugou exclaimed, a proud look spreading across his face. That look made something in Eijirou bloom.

From that moment on, they began focusing on crystallizing materials as their "final blow." Eijirou threw himself into the research, sometimes even explaining his ideas to Bakugou. Their collaboration deepened, and Eijirou felt more confident and capable.

The day of the presentation arrived, and they nailed it, their teacher congratulating them, earning the highest grade and an invitation to a science fair in another prefecture. It was awesome.

Despite some comments about how unlucky he was to share a trip with only Bakugou, Eijirou didn’t care. He was on cloud nine. Going to another state for a science project was a monumental achievement, and it felt incredible to do so alongside Bakugou, they shared a room in the hotel, they even went to some amusement parks, like a small vacation with his friend and a teacher. It was the first time he had ever won anything significant, and the victory was even sweeter because he had earned it with someone he admired deeply.

But when the trip ended and they returned to school, things felt different. Eijirou slipped back into his usual routine, spending time with his friends, Tomo and Gunta. Despite the familiar comfort of their company, something was missing. The excitement he felt working with Bakugou had left a void that his routine couldn't fill.

Bakugou, on the other hand, remained the same—always yelling, always alone. It was clear to Eijirou that Bakugou’s fierce attitude and abrasive demeanor kept most people at arm's length, his classmates seemed intimidated by him, keeping their distance, which left Bakugou often isolated. He had seen a different side of Bakugou, one that was passionate and dedicated, and he wanted others to see that too. Seeing Bakugou by himself, surrounded by the noisy din of the cafeteria, didn’t sit right with Eijirou.

So one day at lunch, he decided to sit right next to him.

Everyone stared, and Bakugou looked at him, puzzled. “You know I don’t care about eating alone,” he said. “Go sit with your friends.”

“But you are my friend,” Eijirou said firmly.

“Go away with your fucking pity,” Bakugou snapped, disgusted. “I don’t want you here.”

Kirishima was slightly hurt by the comment, but he remembered Bakugou’s words: “Do more. Keep up.”

He hesitated for a moment, then left, only to return shortly after. Bakugou looked at him, bewildered.

“I thought I told you to fucking leave,” Bakugou yelled, attracting everyone’s attention. Tomo and Gunta watched him with pity, signaling their table for him to join them, but Eijirou ignored them.

Everyone was watching and he could feel his heart on his throat, but for the life of him, he won't back down.

“I brought you these chips,” he said, holding out a purple bag of spicy chips. He had learned that Bakugou loved spicy food, and the purple ones were too spicy for Eijirou, but for Bakugou, they were a delight.

After a moment of silence, Bakugou nodded, allowing him to sit down. For a few days, that was their routine at lunch. Eijirou brought his “tribute,” and Bakugou let him sit. They didn’t talk much, but the silence was comfortable.

Then one day, Bakugou pulled something from his bag.

“What’s that?” Eijirou asked.

“For you,” Bakugou said, handing him a can of Crimson Riot cherry-flavored soda—his favorite.

Their bond grew stronger with that, often bringing snacks and comics for each other. Eijirou ditched Tomo and Gunta in favor of spending time with Bakugou many times. He could no longer agree with his friends' constant comments about Bakugou being an arrogant, self-absorbed prick. He knew better. Bakugou was intense, sure, but he was also driven, loyal and surprisingly considerate.

He liked being his friend.

Rumors began to spread that Eijirou was only hanging out with Bakugou because he was using him to get better grades, since he was the reason he went on a trip to another prefecture. But Eijirou knew the full story, and so did Bakugou. They both did the hard work and they both earned it, but not everyone agreed with that statement so one day, Tomo and Gunta finally confronted him.

“Come on,” said Gunta leaning in with a mischievous grin. “Tell us the truth. We won't tell anyone.”

“About what?” Eijirou responded, his voice tinged with confusion. It was one of those times when Bakugou was busy with an extracurricular activity and couldn’t hang out with Kirishima. So, during his free period, Eijirou decided to catch up with his friends, Gunta and Tomo. It has been some time after all.

“Don’t play dumb, Ei-chan,” Tomo said, flicking Eijirou's forehead lightly. “About why you hang with the gremlin.”

“Don’t call him that,” Eijirou shot back, a frown forming on his face while rubbing his forehead.

Gunta and Tomo rolled their eyes in exasperation, their expressions puzzled. Eijirou couldn’t understand why they were reacting this way.

“Come on, Ei-chan” Tomo chimed in. “Do you really expect us to believe you're with him because of his kind personality?”

“Well…” Eijirou hesitated, unsure of how to explain his feelings.

“We’re your friends,” Gunta pressed. “You can tell us the truth.”

“The truth is that he’s a great guy,” Eijirou insisted. His friends groaned in unison, clearly not buying it.

“He is,” Eijirou repeated, more firmly this time. “He’s intense, sure, but that’s just part of his charm, he knows what he wants. And he’s very nice. ”

“Come on!” Gunta groaned, his frustration evident. “The jerk of the year, charming? Nice?”

They were looking at him with judgmental eyes, and Eijirou felt self-conscious under their scrutiny. Why didn’t they believe him? Sure, Bakugou was loud, but he wasn’t a jerk. It had been days since the last time he yelled at somebody and he always had a reason for his yelling.

“I mean it,” Eijirou said, his voice softer now. “Bakugou is different when you get to know him. He’s passionate and driven, and he’s been a good friend to me.”

Tomo and Gunta exchanged glances, still skeptical. Eijirou sighed, feeling a mix of frustration. He couldn’t let their doubts undermine his friendship with Bakugou.

They both worked hard for each other's trust, his blond friend deserved at the very least for him to have his back.

“Just give him a chance,” Eijirou added. “You might be surprised.”

“If he isn’t an asshole as you said, why don’t you ask him out?” Tomo challenged.

“What?” Eijirou said flustered.

“Come on, if you’re so sure Bakugou is so kind, why not prove it?” Tomo added. “It should be fine. You’ve been out of the closet since first grade.”

Eijirou gulped. “Yeah, but that’s not...”

“Unless you’re afraid Bakugou is going to act like a jerk,” Tomo taunted.

“I bet he’s an homophobe,” Gunta said. “He’s not as understanding as us.”

“He might even call you a fag.”

“Hey, don’t say that!” Eijirou almost screamed. “He wouldn’t do that. We are friends.”

“How can you be so sure?” Tomo asked with a lazy smirk.

Something tugged inside Eijirou, but he remained loyal. “I’ll show you. He’s going to reject me like a gentleman.”

“That I want to see,” Gunta said.

“Tomorrow, at the end of school, tell him to meet you at the back under the cherry blossoms.”

“Cherry blossoms? That’s cliché, dude,” said Gunta.

Tomo laughed. “We’ll be hiding behind some bushes just to make sure he doesn’t punch you once he rejects you.”

“He wouldn’t do that.”

“I don’t know, remember in first year when a guy from a different school confessed to him?” Gunta while rubbing his chin tried really hard to remember the whole tea.

“Oh yeah, I heard he punched him and told him to kill himself or something.”

“Bakugou wouldn’t do that,” Eijirou stayed firm. “He is nice. I’ll show you.”

“We’ll see.”

The next day, after school ended and the campus cleared out, only Bakugou and Kirishima remained. Eijirou had asked Bakugou to stay behind for a moment, and now he stood under the cherry blossom trees at the back of the school. The air was thick with anticipation, a gentle breeze stirring the pink petals above them. Kirishima fidgeted nervously, feeling the weight of the moment as he glanced over at the bushes where Tomo and Gunta were hiding, eagerly waiting for Bakugou to come. They had dared Eijirou to do this, but now, standing there, he wished he hadn’t agreed. What if he was wrong? What if Bakugou was weirded out? What if they fall apart? What if they stopped talking altogether?

Eijirou’s mind spiraled further. What if Bakugou really did punch him? What if he looked at him with disgust like-No, he couldn’t think like that, Bakugou was way better than that. He had to have faith in his friend. Bakugou had never been violent towards him, not in that way. They’d accomplished so much together, Eijirou owed it to him to believe in him.

The boy in question, hands in his pockets, glanced around with his usual air of nonchalance, though Eijirou could sense a peek of curiosity in his gaze. The late afternoon sunlight cast a warm glow, painting everything in a soft, golden hue.

"Alright, what's this shit about?" he finally spoke up, breaking the tense silence making Eijirou flinch at the crass language. His voice was gruff, but there was a hint of something softer beneath the surface.

Kirishima took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He turned to face Bakugou, meeting his sharp gaze. "Um, Bakugou... I wanted to talk to you about something."

Bakugou raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Spit it out already, Shitty Hair. I don't have all day."

The doubts wouldn’t stop. What if Bakugou didn’t like him? What if this changed everything between them? Eijirou didn’t even like Bakugou that way, not really, so it should be fine, right? He was doing this to prove a point, to show them that Bakugou was kind, understanding and manly. But what if it backfired?

“Everything okay?” said the blond, a tint of worry in his voice.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Bakugou had been there for him, pushing him to be better, to be stronger. He had to trust that he would understand. Even if Bakugou didn’t like him that way, their friendship was stronger than that now.

Eijirou clenched his fists, determined.. "Um, Bakugou... I like you, would you, uh, like to go out with me?"

There was a moment of silence as his friend stared at him, processing the question. Kirishima's heart raced, his palms sweating despite the cool breeze. A smirk played on his lips. "Alright," he said casually. "I'll go out with you."

Kirishima froze, disbelief washing over him. He had braced himself for rejection, not for Bakugou to agree so readily. His mind raced, trying to process the unexpected response. ”Really?” He managed a hesitant smile, relief mixing with surprise. "You... you mean it?"

Bakugou rolled his eyes, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Yeah, dumbass. I said I would, didn't I?"

Kirishima chuckled nervously, still taken aback by the turn of events. "Yeah, you did. I uh…"

Bakugou shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't make it weird, Shitty Hair. Just... don't get on my nerves."

Kirishima grinned, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "My hair’s just long."

His friend stomped towards him, determination clear on his face, everything seemed to go in slow motion. The blond bent down slightly so their eyes were at the same level, making him flinch a little, he had a look as if he was going to war or something. Their faces were inches apart now, their foreheads touching. Bakugou looked into Eijirou's eyes with such softness, a look he had grown used to. He could feel his heart in his throat as he glanced at his friend's lips, pink and plump, inviting him to lean in just a little closer. His eyes narrowed in anticipation, and he was about to go for it when Bakugou’s hand suddenly flew towards his head, ruffling his hair.

“Shitty hair,” Bakugou said slowly, each word dripping with a pointed tone, as if daring Eijirou to contradict him.

Kirishima was puzzled, laughing nervously. “Ha! Right, shitty...shitty...um…”

Bakugou laughed, a rare sound, and Eijirou noticed a slight blush on his face. “You idiot,” Bakugou said, the blush deepening. “Let’s go out tomorrow, my treat.”

Eijirou, temporarily rendered speechless, could only nod, watching as Bakugou turned around and waved goodbye. He halted for a second, as if he had forgotten something, then turned back, stomping towards him, he grabbed Eijirou by the collar, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. Then, with his face and ears red, he left in a hurry, looking both furious and embarrassed.

Kirishima stood there, fingers gently touching the spot where his friend had kissed him, a fond smile spreading across his face. He thought about how brave Bakugou was, always standing up for himself, never backing down from a challenge, the way Bakugou had kissed his cheek so bluntly, so manly, was really admirable. He remembered his intense eyes, full of determination, yet so soft. He wondered if Bakugou’s lips would feel as soft as they looked, if they might kiss for real on their date- Wait, date?

"Duuuuude! What was that?" Gunta emerged from the bushes, shaking off some leaves while side hugging him. "Did you see the face he made?"

Tomo followed, coming out of the bushes a little more elegantly than Gunta, patting his clothes to get rid of the dirt while stifling a laugh. “It was very weird,” he said. “But did you see Ei-chan? Apparently, he’s a beast tamer.”

“Hey! Don’t...” Eijirou started, but Tomo interrupted.

“So, your first date, huh?” Tomo said, raising an eyebrow. “How are you getting out of this one?”

“What?” he blinked.

“Can’t believe you have a date with the ogre,” laughed Gunta.

“I—What?” Eijirou suddenly realized what had just happened. Bakugou was supposed to reject him kindly, not accept his feelings! Wait, he didn’t even have those feelings! What was he going to do? He didn’t know how to date, let alone how to date Bakugou. He didn’t want to date! This was just a huge misunderstanding. His heart raced as he imagined all the awkward situations they would have.

What if Bakugou really expected him to be a good boyfriend and he embarrassed himself? What if they had to hold hands? His hands had always been dry, like rocks—what if Bakugou was grossed out? Oh, God! What if they had to… kiss? He felt a shiver of panic run down his spine.

“Though this could be helpful for you, dummy,” said Tomo, grabbing his chin to get his attention. Eijirou blushed even more, sputtering about the what’s and the hows.

“What do you mean?” asked Gunta.

Tomo, with a glint in his eye, leaned in conspiratorially. “Alright, listen up. Eijirou, you’re going to date Bakugou.”

“W-what?!” Eijirou stammered, feeling even more overwhelmed.

“Just hear me out,” Tomo continued. “You date Bakugou, keep him happy, and in return, he helps us with our homework. He’s a genius, right? If we have him on our side, our grades will skyrocket, and we can pick and choose any high school we want.”

Eijirou looked bewildered and uneasy. “But how am I supposed to make that work? Do I ask him for his answers? He isn’t going to lend them to us, he might explain them to me, though”

“But if you go with your puppy eyes, and your typical self-loathing attitude, he’s going to cave, since he is ‘so kind’” said Tomo with finger quotes.

“I can’t just... manipulate him like that. It doesn’t feel right.”

“It’s not manipulation,” Tomo said with a dismissive wave. “Just be your usual self. You said he’s a good friend, right? Use that to your advantage. Spend time with him, make him feel special, subtly ask for help with our assignments.”

Gunta nodded, catching on. “Yeah, like, ‘Hey, dude, can you explain this? I’m too dumb to get it,’ or ‘I’m having trouble with this, can you help? You’re the best at this.’ He’ll totally eat that up—he’s such a show-off.”

Eijirou felt even more uneasy, not knowing if it was because Bakugou would totally fall for something like that or the way his friends called him dumb too easily. “That’s… that’s not nice. Besides, what if he catches on? Or worse, what if he really thinks I have feelings for him and it blows out of proportion?”

“Oh? What do you think Bakugou is going to do to you?” Gunta had a sly smirk on his face, his eyebrows going up and down with a knowing face, though he interrupted himself, thinking on something “How’s that going to work? You’re both men, so what are you-”

“Just be careful,” Tomo said with a smirk. “Keep it casual and friendly. Say that you aren’t ready for that kind of stuff, ya know? You’re good at that. And remember, you’re not lying to him—you just need his help.”

Eijirou sighed, he really didn’t like this plan, but he didn’t want to disappoint his friends. He was too much of a coward to refuse outright, and maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be so bad. A small part of him really wanted to see that soft side of Bakugou, catching a glimpse of it while confessing really did something to his mind.

He could always back out if things got too complicated, right? Stay as friends but…

“But still,” he said hesitantly, “I don’t want to take advantage of him. It’s unmanly. I’m not like that.”

“Look, Ei,” Tomo said, his tone more serious now. “You’ve been ditching us to hang out with Bakugou all the time. We barely see you unless he’s busy with something else, and now it’s unmanly to want to spend time together?”

“What?” Eijirou asked, confused. If anything, that plan would make him spend way more time with Bakugou, so that reproach didn’t make sense.

“Don’t you care about us? You’ve been a bad friend, man.”

Gunta gave Tomo a confused look but still nodded at his words.

“It’s not like you’re doing something bad. You are asking for help! And then you give us the notes you took from Bakugou,we up our grades and we can choose whatever high school we want. We would be together! Don’t you want that?” continued Tomo. “If everything goes well, we might even win a trip like you did! Don’t you want to have fun with us? Do you really want to spend all of your time with the jerk instead of us? We have been together since elementary school, thought we would be together in high school too”

Eijirou looked away, guilt gnawing at him. He hated the thought of using Bakugou, but he also didn’t want to let his friends down, they made a promise to each other to always be together. “I... I guess you’re right. I have been spending more time with him.”

Gunta chimed in, “Yeah, and besides, you won’t be doing all the work by yourself anymore. We’ll pitch in from time to time, make sure everything is fair, ya know?

“It’s just a bit of extra help from someone who’s already ahead.”concluded Tomo. “It’s not like we are hurting him, besides with his attitude he might never have a boyfriend, so we are doing him a favor, really”

Eijirou looked between his friends, feeling conflicted. They had a point, but it still didn’t sit right with him. “Alright,” he said finally, the words tasting like gravel on his mouth “I’ll give it a try. But if this backfires, you’re going to explain everything.”

“Deal,” Tomo and Gunta said in unison, grinning mischievously.

The following day, Eijirou woke up with a sense of dread. He had spent most of the night tossing and turning, unable to shake off the anxiety gnawing at him. Tomo and Gunta wanted to use him to get better grades? How was he going to do that? How was he going to face Bakugou today? He had somehow ended up on a date with him on a whim, not expecting the blond to have feelings for him.

Bakugou was better than him in every way. He was smarter, taller, more confident, and effortlessly cool. How could he even notice him when Eijirou was just a small, dumb fry who couldn’t even stand up for himself when his friends mocked him? Bakugou was beautiful, and he looked so soft when he confessed. Kirishima felt bad for doing it on a dare, not expecting the blond to be gay, let alone have feelings for him… Maybe he didn’t. Maybe Bakugou was just being nice, accepting his confession to keep the peace. Maybe he planned to have a bad date, so they would both realize they were better as friends. Yeah, maybe that’s what happened.

When he arrived at school, he immediately spotted Bakugou waiting by the gate, arms crossed and a typical scowl on his face. Kirishima's heart did a flip. He took a deep breath and walked over, trying to appear calm.

"Morning, Bakugou," Kirishima greeted, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Yo," Bakugou responded with a curt nod. "Ready for today?"

Kirishima forced a smile. "Yeah, totally! So, um, where are we going?"

Bakugou smirked, looking a little too pleased with himself. "You'll see."

They walked side by side in the halls of the school, with Kirishima glancing nervously at Bakugou every now and then. Bakugou seemed more relaxed than usual, which only made Kirishima more anxious. What if he expected too much? What if he figured out Kirishima's real intentions?

The day at school was uneventful. They followed their newfound routine in which they would eat together, partner up together, and so on. He was afraid it would be awkward, and although the air held a little bit of tension, they kept talking and joking like usual. To be fair, it didn’t feel like they were going out; it felt like a friendship.

Till the end of classes.

It was left unsaid that they were going to go together. Where? He didn’t know. He usually liked Bakugou's mysterious demeanor, expecting the blond to hold out a surprise, but with Tomo and Gunta behind him giving him a thumbs up, he just wanted this day to end.

“Today we have lots of homework,” said Tomo, whispering. They were at their lockers. Bakugou putting on his shoes on the other side. “It would be good if you asked him how to do the exercises.”

“I-”

“Shitty hair,” said Bakugou, coming up behind them.

Tomo made a face at the nickname, giving Eijirou a pointed look as if to say, “See? He is a jerk,” but didn’t say anything else, leaving after giving Eijirou a pat on the shoulder.

“See ya later, Ei-chan.”