Izuku Midoriya

Rain had been falling over Dormitory 1-A for two days now. It trickled down the glass in tiny drops, washing away the daytime noise and leaving only coolness and a dull, quiet hum in the hallways.

Izuku sat on the edge of the bed, hugging his knees and staring at a single spot on the floor. The desk lamp was still on, illuminating the scribbled Hero Studies notebooks, but Midoriya's thoughts were miles away from his studies.

"Love is supposed to be something warm, right? "he thought, his fingers convulsively clutching the fabric of his sweatpants.

His chest tightened with conflicting emotions. He remembered this evening. He remembered how Shoto had gently and carefully touched his hand in the shared kitchen, when no one was looking. Todoroki's warm fingers, his calm, trusting gaze, and the quiet whisper: "I'm here, Izuku. "The feeling was real, deep, and mutual. Shoto was his peace, his safe haven, a place where he didn't have to be a strong Symbol of Peace. Izuku truly loved him with all his heart.

But why then did everything inside burn with a dull, exhausting pain?

Because a completely different image stood before my eyes.

Two hours ago. The backyard of the dorm, where Kacchan stood under the awning. Bakugou never spoke beautifully or softly. He stood with his fists clenched, his back to Izuku, breathing heavily from his training. Then he turned abruptly, and in his scarlet eyes, Midoriya saw something he'd never seen before—not anger or fury, but despair.

"You think I don't see it, Deku?!" Kacchan almost growled, and for the first time in Izuku's memory, his voice wavered slightly. "You think I don't see the way you look at him?!"

Bakugo didn't ask for forgiveness, didn't beg, or utter loud words of love. But every movement he made, every sharp step forward, and the way he swallowed hard, made Izuku understand everything without words. Kacchan had opened up to him. Revealed what he'd hidden behind screams and explosions for years.

Izuku couldn't answer. He just stood there, head down, feeling his throat constrict. He looked into Kacchan's eyes and said, "Sorry, my heart is busy."

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