You were feeling out of sorts today.

Perhaps it was the looming internships, or maybe the fact that Katsuki had been spending almost all his spare time training for his provisional make-up exam, but there was a dark cloud following you around wherever you went. Classes had ended, Katsuki had told you he needed to catch up on all the studying he'd missed, and so you found yourself lounging around the communal area of the dorms feeling listless and grouchy.

Todoroki had the misfortune of approaching you.

"[Name], did you get your homework done already?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. It was just a question, with no ill-intent or alternate meaning, but for some reason you decided to respond in the worst way possible.

"Why the hell do you care?"

You regretted the words as soon as they left your mouth, especially when you saw the way Todoroki's brows slumped downwards. He'd just been trying to make conversation, and now he was probably wondering what he'd done wrong, the poor thing.

"Sorry," you managed hastily, shaking your head in dismay. "My mood's been off the last few days. I think it's since Katsuki-kun's been busy and we haven't been able to spend as much time together. I'm also pretty nervous about the internships, even though I'll probably end up working for Hana-san, but still."

His eyes softened. "Oh. For a moment, I thought you were upset with me for something."

"N-No, of course not. I'm sorry for snapping at you..."

"It's alright." He took a seat beside you. "Bakugou's definitely been putting a lot of effort into all of our training sessions. I guess I didn't realize just how serious that guy could be."

"He's actually really disciplined. I know he doesn't seem the type. How have you been managing to keep up with school and your remedial courses at the same time?"

He gave you a deadpan expression. "I don't know. I feel like just attending class is good enough to keep your grades up."

I'm surrounded by way too many talented people, jeez.

"Sure, sure," you sighed, letting your head fall back against the couch. "Aw, man, I'm so bored. I tried to convince Katsuki-kun to take the evening off but he just ignored me and locked himself in his room. He'll be in bed early too so I won't even have a chance to see him again tonight..."

"You're frustrated?"

"Well, yes. I want to spend more time with him."

"Even though you see each other during classes every day?"

"Y-Yes. Isn't it normal to want to be around the person you like as much as possible?"

Todoroki slunk further into the cushion. "I don't know. Probably." His eyes softened for a moment, then he reached out to lightly pat you on the head. You blinked at the feeling of his fingers smoothing down your hair.

Is this his way of consoling me?

You almost laughed at the innocence of it all, but an annoying, high-pitched sound had already begun filling the room.

"Ooooh!" Kaminari squealed, hopping in place as he pointed at the two of you. "Todoroki's putting on the moves! Dude, you're so dead as soon as Bakugou finds out!"

"What moves?" Todoroki gaped. "We're not moving."

"Todoroki-kun," you sighed, "that's not what he means..."

"What does he—?"

"You're taking advantage of the situation and flirting with [Name]-chan just because her boyfriend isn't around! That's ice-cold, man—pun intended!"

Todoroki was only growing increasingly more confused, but by now Ashido and Hagakure had also joined in and were giggling about 'how close' the two of you had been getting. Kaminari was right, though. It was probably for the best that Katsuki not be around to witness this nonsense. Otherwise—

"You guys seriously can't keep it the fuck down, can ya?!"

Oh, boy.

Speak of the devil, Katsuki had (at some point) left his fortress of solitude and trickled into the communal area. Still, his room was several floors above. You didn't think you guys were being that loud. Well, you'd been pretty much zoned in until Todoroki had first approached you, though.

"Stop being so fucking loud," he growled, eyeing everyone in the room viciously. When he saw you seated just next to Todoroki, you became no exception. "I'm trying to study for this goddamned test, and I also need to figure out a new move plan for my—"

"Todoroki and [Name] were flirting!" Ashido blurted.

"What."

"That's so not true," you countered, watching the way your classmate's darkened eyes lit up with mischief and glee. That sneaky little bitch. You'd have to give her a stern talking to later.

"So this is what you do when I'm not around, huh?" Katsuki half-scoffed, but your cheeks were puffed out in protest, so he probably realized it was all a farce. Todoroki was blinking at inhumane speeds, no doubt wondering what in the hell he'd gotten himself wrapped into.

"You know it's not," you eye-rolled.

"I saw it!" Kaminari chortled, that bastard, "Todoroki was running his fingers through her hair all romantic-like!"

"Excuse me?!"

This seemed to get his attention, and he'd stormed over to the couch before you could bat your eyes. Katsuki loomed above the two of you, brows knit into a quivering knot. Todoroki maintained a blank expression, but you knew you didn't imagine him scooting away.

"Stop hitting on my girl, asswipe."

"I wasn't."

"You were, though."

"Not really."

"Fuck you."

"No thanks."

"[Name], we're leaving."

Your classmates were all whooping with laughter now. Most would've probably just disregarded a little bit of teasing like this, but when had Katsuki ever been permissive? Actually, you were surprised at how calm he was being, all things considered. Before, whenever he even saw you accidentally bump shoulders with another guy, it would get him fuming.

"Don't you have to study?" you protested, stumbling behind as he led you upstairs.

"Too late," he snapped. "I'm not in the mood anymore."

"Are people ever in the mood for studying?"

"Watch your mouth, smart-ass."

You chuckled under your breath. This was actually a nice turn of events. It seemed like he had tunnel vision earlier and was only focused on his work, but thanks to that little mishap, you'd actually get to spend a bit of time with him.

Todoroki-kun's right, though. We still see each other during classes. It's not as if we're ever apart for long. And still, I get impatient to be with him every time he's not around...

You cast your head to the ground as your cheeks flushed a brazen crimson. Katsuki opened the door to his room and let you in, but you were now too preoccupied by your own thoughts to focus on him. The warmth in your face, and the tingly sensation in your chest... they served as the perfect cues that feelings were bubbling up to the surface. Feelings that you knew all too well, and that you'd been harboring for quite some time.

The only difference was that now, they were looking for an escape.

"Man, I'm so fucking behind on all my shit," Katsuki grumbled, plopping down on his bed with a sigh. He was used to you following and sitting down beside him, so when you didn't, he looked up at you with a frown. "What is it? You look like you have something you wanna say."

"Um, not really..."

His brow twitched. "Trying to keep shit from me again?"

"N-No, sorry." Your face flushed even more. "If it's okay, can you... hug me?"

"Uhh, okay?" Katsuki blinked. "I'm not sure what you're angle is here. You're being all fidgety and adorable so I feel like you're about to ask me for some super unreasonable favor."

"But I'm always fidgety and adorable...?" you tried.

Katsuki paused for a moment, then chuckled. "Damn right you are. Get your ass over here." He reached out to pull you towards the bed, arms falling around your back almost immediately. You inhaled by his neck and sighed. He kind of smelled like cinnamon today. It still had that sharp, musky accent to it, though. Different cologne, maybe?

"Stop sniffing me," he laughed. "Are you a dog?"

"N-No..."

You buried yourself into his chest, body burning all over. He must've felt you shaking, since he propped your chin up and made you meet his gaze.

"What's up with you?" Katsuki frowned. "You seem nervous, or something. You're never nervous around me. I knew it, you are hiding something—"

"I love you."

You didn't wait for him to react. Instead, you buried yourself back into his arms, too flustered to even dare look him in the eyes. He was still holding you, but his grip had gone slack. You wanted to look at him more than anything right now. It was scary being this vulnerable, and your heart was beating so fast you could barely breathe, but just one peek couldn't hurt...

Oh.

"Do you... really mean that...?"

No matter how many times you'd seen this expression, it still managed to blow you away. The stillness, the lack of anger or frustration, the simplicity, the act of just plain being at a loss for words. It was special, and you knew you were one of the very few who'd ever seen this expression. To render the great Bakugou Katsuki incapable of speech... that had to mean something, didn't it?

"Yes," you breathed, swallowing your flush and forcing yourself to look straight into his eyes. "I mean it. I'm sorry it took me so long to say."

"No, it's—" Katsuki hurriedly shook his head. "It's, uh, fine. I never... expected you to say it back in the first place. I mean... I didn't say it looking for that in return or anything..." He inhaled sharply. "Shit. Sorry. I don't even know what the fuck to say right now, I feel like I can hardly think straight."

You smiled. "You don't have to say anything. You already said it to me."

"I know, but—"

"I've loved you for a long time," you admitted, watching the way Katsuki's eyes widened. "It might sound kind of stupid, but... I didn't want to say it prematurely. This was back when my mark was fading, and a part of me was worried that if I confessed, it would just be out of fear of our time running out. I wanted it to be real, and meaningful, and..." You looked around the room and laughed. "Well, I sort of wanted it to be somewhere a bit more special than this, but I guess it was just bound to happen naturally. I was feeling all sorts of emotions today, so I doubt I could have kept quiet any longer."

Katsuki squeezed your hand to the point that it began to hurt. There was a twinge of discomfort, but you didn't try to shake him off. His fingers were trembling so fiercely against your own, it was almost as if he was scared of losing you all over again.

"I love you, too," he rasped out. "I love you so, so much."

You bit down on your lip to keep from looking away. You were so new to this. Being vulnerable was so much more difficult than you could've ever expected. You didn't know how you ever would've done it with someone other than Katsuki. No... from the beginning there was surely no one else.

It was just the two of you, and it would continue to be so for the rest of your lives.