Katsuki led you along by the hand, not uttering a single word. In a way, you were grateful for the silence. Though it was a tad unsettling, you knew it couldn't possibly compare to the chat that would ensue once he did open his mouth.

"So your solution to our problems is to run off with other guys, huh?"

Just moments later, he'd spoken up. You felt your stomach churn, and had the biting urge to flee from the scene. Of course, that wouldn't be an option this time around. You couldn't keep delaying things and fighting what needed to be dealt with.

"...I'm sorry," you mumbled guiltily. He hadn't even so much as glanced back over his shoulder to look at you. Even now, he was still holding your hand. "It was a mistake," you continued. "I wasn't...feeling my best. And I made a spur-of-the-moment decision, to come out here tonight."

Silence, again. You weren't entirely sure where exactly he was leading you towards. You weren't heading in the direction of the station. Perhaps he was just cantering along, idly, unsure himself as to where to even go. It was a common theme, you supposed. Both of you always seemed to be lost—literally and figuratively.

"We're taking a seat over there," Katsuki announced. You cocked your head to the side, spying a bench. You'd been right in assuming that you were about to have a long discussion then.

You nodded once, smoothing down your skirt and tucking it underneath before seating yourself just beside Katsuki. His fingers had finally pried themselves away from your own. You missed their warmth already.

You cleared your throat. "Um, if you don't mind me asking...how did you know where to find me?"

"Round-face texted me. Your friend."

Uraraka-chan...

"I don't even know how the hell she got my number in the first place," he muttered, "But I guess in this instance, it worked out. Imagine my surprise, hearing that you were already ready to throw me aside and trade me in for some other asshole."

There was bitterness in his tone; understandably so. What you'd done definitely didn't make you look good, and you weren't quite sure what Uraraka had told him, or how unflattering her words had been, but you were grateful nonetheless.

Katsuki was here now. You wanted him—not some generic playboy who you'd just met.

"Thank you for saving me," you mumbled quietly, casting your head down. "I know you're upset with me, but still...I appreciate it. I was really happy to see you, Katsuki-kun. I mean that."

He pressed his lips together, nodding solemnly. "Okay. So, try to walk me through this. Why, exactly, did you come out here in the first place? It wasn't to meet someone else?"

"N-no," you protested. "I was acting out of emotion, since I was upset with, well...how our last talk went. I needed some cheering up, and I thought it would do me some good to go out and meet new people. But I realized almost immediately that my heart wasn't into it. I wasn't interested in finding a guy, either; he sort of just kept coming onto me..."

Katsuki narrowed his eyes. "You ignored me at school."

"I-I know. But...so did you."

"Yeah. You're right about that."

He ran a hand through his blonde locks, sighing deeply. It was dark out, save for the street lamps that illuminated some areas in patches. You shivered a bit; Katsuki flinched from beside you. Before you could protest, he was already removing his coat and draping it over your shoulders.

Your eyes widened. "Oh...thank you. But won't you be—?"

"I'm fine. I just wanna figure this shit out, once and for all."

"Right..."

"[Name], I think—" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "This whole thing has been way too fucking complicated, from the very beginning. We've been making it complicated; giving ourselves headaches for no damn reason. This 'soulmate' crap has been sucking out our fucking spirits. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Sucking out our spirits...?" you frowned. "I mean—yes, it's a much more unique situation than most people are dealing with. It's rare to come by, and all."

"And you don't think you've been losing your mind over this whole concept?"

"I've...been losing my mind over the fact that my mark is fading," you countered. "That's where everything starting going wrong."

Katsuki slumped his shoulders, expression falling. "I think you're wrong there. I think you went into this whole situation feeling off, from the very beginning. Like when you spoke to me after our first fight—you told me that you'd been wrong to imagine me a certain way, and that you were gonna stop doing that from then on. But I don't think you ever really did. I think all this time, you held that in, worrying about the 'what ifs' and pretty much assuming that everything would go to shit at some point."

"I don't—" You shook your head furiously. "No. That's not true. I tried my best, and—"

"You tried your best, but you were still having doubts. About me. About us."

There was truth in what he was saying. You realized that, and it made your chest tighten. You gnawed on your bottom lip, cheeks burning.

"You're not wrong about the fact that...it was difficult for me to accept things the way they were. But then you were also looking at this thing wrong. You only see me as your soulmate, and I knew that the second I told you my mark was fading, you would give up on me."

Katsuki frowned. "I haven't given up on you. The fact that I came all this way proves that."

"But—"

"It all started off weird." He shifted his hands onto his lap. "I hated my soulmate mark, all my damn life. So yeah, I didn't want a soulmate; not if it made me look so weak and vulnerable. That's why everything was a fucking mess from the very beginning—it was bad enough that fucker Deku got into U.A, but then I found my soulmate and...it just became more and more complicated. So, yes. I was resisting it at first, but then knowing that we each had a mark made me feel comfortable. Like I wouldn't ever have to worry about the relationship running sour."

Katsuki sighed.

"Obviously, that wasn't the case. But you know, regardless of how it all started off, at this point, I couldn't care less about the marking. I want to be with you—not because you're my soulmate or whatever, but because I actually like spending time with you. It makes me happy." He flushed deeply; scarlet tinges rose to the tips of his ears. "I honestly don't remember ever being this happy with someone before. That's why, soulmate or not, it doesn't matter. I want you."

Your own cheeks had reddened to the point that you were certain they'd explode. Had he ever been this honest and vulnerable with you before? He'd been keeping this sensitive and deeply emotional side to him hidden from you, all this time?

"You actually l-like me." The words came out sounding shaky and hoarse; you were still struggling to get a grip on your breathing. Katsuki nodded.

"No shit I do. I like you a fuck-ton, so don't go around doubting that."

You lowered your head, smiling meekly. "That's nice. I think...it's probably the first time you've ever told me that so directly before. Even with us being soulmates, and just assuming we should dive into a relationship, I don't think we ever took the time to tell each other how we felt."

"So...how do you feel?" he asked. "Pretend like the soulmate shit doesn't exist for a second. Putting that aside, do you like me? Are you happy when we're together?"

A simple question. One that you already had the answer to.

"Of course," you smiled, placing your hand atop his own. "I do like you, Katsuki-kun. I like you a lot."

Katsuki blushed again, allowing his fingers to intertwine with your own. He gave your hand a firm squeeze.

"Then let's stop fucking around," he murmured, "And just see this thing through. Let's stop putting so much pressure on our damn selves and trying to predict the future; imagining everything that could go wrong. Instead of thinking of ourselves as soulmates, let's just look at each other the way every other couple does—as someone we care about."

You nodded briskly, still clinging to his hand. It was so warm, you almost never wanted to let go. There was a gentleness to the touch, in spite of how rugged and worn down his hands were, from many hours of training. It just felt like this was where you were supposed to be—a spot, reserved just for you.

Katsuki was staring at you, eyes unblinking. His brows weren't furrowed the way they normally were. He studied your expression, carefully and meticulously. As if he wanted to burn it into his memory for all time.

You felt him shuffle closer to you on the bench; your fingers were still intertwined. He leaned closer, just enough so that his ashen locks would graze by your jaw and tickle your skin. You felt the warmth of his breath as it hovered above your frame. He pressed into you, lips pecking your cheek. The kiss was just as brief as it had been earlier, but it made you flush a thousand shades of red just the same.

"There," he chuckled, "Was that so bad?"

You hastily shook your head. "N-no, of course not. I just...get embarrassed over things like that easily."

"It's like they say—practice makes perfect, right?" When you glanced back, he had a lopsided grin that stretched up to his ears. It felt like your heart stopped for a moment. You were certain he never smiled like that around anyone else but you.

"You're just [Name]," he continued, running his free hand through your hair. "And I'm just Katsuki. There's nothing more to it."

"I know. You're right, Katsuki-kun. You're right."

"So, then..."

You blinked in surprise. He'd lifted your chin with his forefinger, and was now staring right into your eyes. "I want to date you," he declared. "I want us to be a proper couple—not because of the 'soulmate' title, but because we want this. I hope...you feel the same way."

"...Yes," you mumbled breathlessly. The words had slipped out before you'd even realized it. You felt silly now, realizing that such a resolution had been possible, from the very start. If only you'd been fully honest with one another. Listened to each other.

Katsuki exhaled, visibly relieved. "Good." Perhaps there'd still been the smallest grain of doubt; worry that you wouldn't accept him as he was. You smiled gently, cradling his cheek with your hand.

"I promise to try harder for you."

His eyes widened for a split-second, and then you'd pressed your lips against his own. A scalding heat erupted across your cheekbones. You pulled away almost immediately, already flustered beyond words. Katsuki stared back at you, blushing and open-mouthed. He looked disappointed that it hadn't lasted longer.

"N-next time," you stammered out, taking refuge by burying your face by his neck. "For now I just want to sit still for a bit. With you. Is that okay...?"

"It's okay. We can stay here as long as you like."

His fingers resumed combing through tresses of your hair. You snuggled closer to him all the while, gripping onto the fabric of his shirt.

"Hey...Katsuki-kun?"

"Yes, [Name]?"

You swallowed hard. "Will you still like me even if my mark completely disappears?"

"Stupid question." He wrapped both hands around your back, squeezing you tight. You heard him chuckle. "And by that I mean, of course. I promise."

You nodded silently, making such a subtle motion that he could've easily missed it. Maybe it was because you were wearing Katsuki's jacket, but you didn't feel cold anymore.