WMUWSE / Chapter 8 (ENG) (Patreon)

The next morning, Izuku woke up ready for war.

Now he had one goal: find that little blond boy whose face was still frustratingly hazy in his mind. He knew how crazy it sounded. The odds that the campsite regulars would remember one specific blond kid, when they didn’t even remember Izuku, were basically nonexistent. And without more details… it was ridiculous.

Still. As he jogged through the cool morning air, he turned it over in his head and built himself a plan.

Step one: talk to the campsite director. Maybe he could help him track down the people who’d been here back then and were still around now. 

Step two: tell absolutely no one, especially not Katsuki. Izuku had seen how badly all of this hurt him. He couldn’t stand the thought of putting that pain back on Katsuki’s face. And as for the others… he didn’t want to ruin their vacation with his personal mess.

Okay. It was… sort of a plan. He just had to get back, take a shower, and-

-oriya!!”

Izuku skidded to a stop so suddenly he nearly ate dirt. He looked up, blinking, and realized he’d almost plowed straight into someone.

“Sh-Shouto? What-” His eyes dropped to the other boy’s running clothes. “Oh. Right. I forgot you run too.” He gave an awkward smile. “But… why are you just standing in the middle of the trail?”

“I stopped to drink.” Shouto said, calm as ever. “And when I was about to start again, I saw you coming.” One eyebrow lifted. “I called you a few times, but you looked completely lost in your head.”

“Hah… yeah. Sorry.” Izuku reached for his bottle and twisted off the cap.

“Bakugou again?”

Izuku snorted. “No. Not this time.” He took a sip, then added, more sincerely “But… thanks. For what you said the other day at the restaurant. It actually helped a lot.”

They fell into step together, walking side by side.

“Really?” Shouto asked.

“Mmhmm.” Izuku smiled faintly. “Katsuki’s been… a big help.”

Not entirely false. Just… not the whole story. He definitely wasn’t going to tell Shouto they’d almost ended up fucking in the public showers, or that they’d argued afterward. He didn’t need to know.

But Shouto, despite the way he always looked like a human ice sculpture, had an annoyingly sharp read on Izuku.

“Then why do you still look like something’s unresolved?”

Izuku hesitated. But he trusted Shouto. So he told him about the dream,and about the little blond boy, and about his plan to find him.

Shouto listened without interrupting. He didn’t even react much, just nodded along until Izuku finished.

“Your plan makes sense.” Shouto said. “But why limit it to the campsite?”

Izuku frowned at him, waiting.

“Kids who vacation here usually go into the nearby town.” Shouto continued. “There’s a big mall. And a huge arcade. If you’re looking for someone from back then, you might have better luck there.”

The arcade…?

“Katsuki already took me there…” Izuku admitted quietly.

Shouto’s gaze sharpened a little. “And?”

“And… the guy working there seemed to remember Katsuki…” Izuku said, hope creeping in. “So maybe… maybe he’d remember the kid. Or me.” He turned to Shouto, suddenly energized. “Yeah! After I talk to the director, I’ll go check the arcade!”

“Want company?” Shouto offered. “I don’t know if I’ll be helpful, but…”

“I don’t want to drag you into my problems…”

Shouto shrugged. “It’s fine. Touya wandered off to sulk somewhere anyway.”

Izuku huffed a laugh. “Okay… then meet after lunch? If that works?”

“Sure.”

“Want to run back to the campsite?” Izuku grinned.

Shouto returned the conspiratorial smile and, against all expectations, took off running like he was challenging Izuku.

“Hey!!! That’s cheating!” Izuku shouted, running after him.

“It’s not cheating if there are no rules!”

They laughed and ran all the way back to his tent. Both of them were flushed from the effort and soaked in sweat.

After one last promise to see each other again in a few hours, they split up.

Izuku rushed into the shower, and once he was freshened up and ready, he headed toward the cabin. It was a bit cooler today, maybe a sign rain was coming. He hoped it wouldn’t be tonight, though. The others had managed to convince him with their enthusiasm yesterday. All dinner they’d talked about the campfire night and honestly, Izuku thought it sounded really nice.

When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Katsuki half sprawled in the corner of the couch, wearing basketball shorts and a white T-shirt. One knee propped up his notebook, his teeth were biting the end of his pencil, and his ears were covered by headphones.

He lifted his gorgeous red eyes to Izuku, and they held each other’s gaze for a few seconds.

He finally took off his headphones and let them rest around his neck. “You went running?”

“H-huh?”

He gestured at Izuku’s damp hair. “You only shower this early when you run.”

Izuku stared, stunned… He noticed that? “Uh… yeah. I ran a bit.”

“Mmh.” He put his headphones back on, shifting the right side so he could hear Izuku. “There’s hot coffee in the pot.” He lowered his head to his notebook and went back to scribbling.

“Ah, thanks.” Izuku moved into the kitchen with the burning feeling of being watched, but when he turned around, Katsuki was still focused on his notebook.

He grabbed a mug, poured himself some coffee, then turned and leaned against the counter.

He raised the mug to his lips without drinking. He watched the blond over the ceramic.

It was mesmerizing, watching him work on his songs. Sometimes his face would twist, his brows would knit, or his pencil would tap his lower lip whenever he was thinking.

“I can feel you staring, nerd.” he said without looking up.

Izuku blushed and finally dropped his eyes to his mug. “Sorry…”

“…I didn’t say I didn’t like it.”

A shiver ran down Izuku’s spine as he looked up and met a red gaze locked on him. “…I-”

“GUYS!!!” Denki yelled, slamming his bedroom door and bursting out with a cheerful bounce. “Today’s the campfire!!”

“And also Mina’s and my birthday…” Sero sighed, following him.

Both boys were still in pajamas, they’d clearly just woken up, but the blond was definitely more awake than the brunette.

“Yeah, yeah… Ah! Mido! My man!” He threw himself around Izuku’s neck. “Got plans today? We’re going to buy food with Mina and Kats! You should come too!”

“Ah, that’s sweet, but I already have something planned…” Denki stepped back, pouting, while the other blond in the room looked at him with one raised eyebrow. Think fast, Izuku! “Actually, I’m going shopping with Shouto… for the birthdays… gifts and stuff…” It wasn’t a lie: technically, he was going to the mall with Shouto, so…

“Todoroki? Oh man! Tell him to join us tonight! The more the merrier, right?”

“OI!!! Don’t invite people when it’s not your birthday, dumbass!” Katsuki snapped.

Denki stared at him for a second. “Mmh… you’re right.” Then he turned to Sero, who was pouring himself a generous mug of coffee. “What do you think?”

Sero looked at the three faces, then grinned wickedly straight at Katsuki. “Yeah, sure. Invite him.”

Izuku’s head spun as he looked from one boy to the next. Katsuki looked furious for some reason, while Sero smiled smugly. Denki, meanwhile, didn’t seem to notice anything, chattering about his plans for the day and night with childlike excitement.

The front door opened and Kirishima and Mina’s voices joined the mix.

“I don’t think we’re allowed to, babe…”

“And why not? Fireworks would be awesome!” the girl grumbled. Ochaco followed behind, already looking exhausted by Mina’s endless energy.

She slipped quickly to Izuku’s side. “How are you?” She nodded discreetly toward Katsuki.

“Good? I think…” He briefly met the blond’s gaze, still angry for some obscure reason. “I’ve got stuff to do with Shouto today.” he said, trying to steer the conversation toward something less sensitive.

The brunette suddenly looked stunned. “…Shouto… Todoroki?”

“Yeah. I ran into him during my jog this morning, we’re going to shop for tonight…”

She narrowed her eyes, clearly imagining a dozen things, probably all wrong. “You and him…”

“No.” He cut her off immediately. “We’re friends. Ocha, he has a boyfriend. I swear if you get weird ideas again…” He shot her a glare.

“Okay… but he is cute. I mean, I’ll support you if ever-”

They jumped at the sound of something hitting the floor. Izuku turned instantly and saw Katsuki’s mug on the ground, empty and unbroken, luckily. “SHIT!!” the owner yelled in rage as he’d gotten up without Izuku noticing. A threatening aura rolled off him, and a deathly silence filled the cabin’s living area.

“Okaaay! We’re gonna go do some shopping, guys… see you at lunch!” Kirishima had grabbed his girlfriend’s hand and Denki’s arm and dragged them out, Denki yelling that he was still in pajamas. Sero found something to do outside too, like washing his dirty laundry… without taking his dirty laundry.

Only Ochaco, Katsuki, and Izuku remained.

Katsuki had moved to the kitchen sink in silence, to wash his mug.

Izuku felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. When he pulled it out, he saw it was his mom. “I need to take this… I’ll be back in a minute!” He rushed outside and answered.

“Hi, Mom!”

“Hi, Izuku. Sorry I couldn’t call these past few days. I was at a friend’s.”

He frowned. As far as he knew, his mother didn’t really have friends, more like acquaintances. She’d never shown any interest in making friends. Even at work or when she volunteered, she kept a distance from people. “A friend? Someone I know?”

“Oh!… N-no, you don’t know her. She’s an old friend from college I recently got back in touch with…” She laughed softly, but it sounded fake. Izuku knew his mother too well. She was a terrible liar.

And with what Ochaco had told him when he got back, he was really worried about her. “Mom, are you sure you’re okay?”

“Well… to be honest, Izu, I feel really lonely without you at home… and… how do I say it… I thought maybe you could come back early? Spend time with your old mom before college, you know…”

Wait… what?

“Mom…”

“I know, sweetheart, I’m selfish… But I won’t always be here, you know? And you’re going to become independent, and I won’t see you anymore…”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “You know college isn’t that far… I could come home some weekends and during breaks…” He sighed. “Mom, I’m not coming back early just because you miss me… I miss you too, but… but I really like the time I’m spending here.”

“Because of Katsuki?”

Ochaco had warned him they’d talked about it. And knowing his mom, he knew she was going to get to it eventually. “He’s part of it, yeah. But also everyone else. And this place is really amazing. It’s so relaxing…” said the guy who hadn’t managed to relax for five minutes since pitching his tent.

And then she said something that made his blood run cold.

“I could join you?”

“…WHAT? N-no, Mom… your job… you-”

“I can take a few days off.” She said it so definitively that a lump rose in Izuku’s throat from sudden stress.

She couldn’t… no way! First because she thought Izuku was at a completely different campsite, and if she showed up there and realized he wasn’t and he’d lied, it would break her heart. She’d force him home and he’d hear about it for the rest of his life. Not to mention he’d have less time with Katsuki and the others…

“Mom, no. Please.” He tried to stay calm. “You promised… these were supposed to be vacations without you. If you come, it doesn’t make sense anymore…”

Silence.

“You know I miss you, right?” he tried to reassure her. “And maybe next summer we can go on vacation together, here or somewhere else, whatever you want… but…” Don’t cry, Izuku… “…but please, just let me have this…”

He heard her take a deep breath before answering. “…Okay…”

The relief he felt was indescribable. “Thanks, Mom…”

“I have to go back to work. I’ll call you soon. I love you, Izuku.”

“I love you too.”

And with that, he hung up.

He stared at the screen going dark, trying to understand why his mother had sounded so strange. And who this college friend was, and why she’d suddenly get back in touch like that… Maybe she missed Izuku so much she was trying to find, or re-find, other people to spend time with…

He went back into the cabin, head down and still a little confused. When he opened the door, the atmosphere hit him like a wall.

Ochaco and Katsuki were staring at each other with such seriousness that Izuku immediately felt like he didn’t belong… “Uh… is… everything okay?”

“Yes.” they answered at the same time.

Izuku looked between them. Then Ochaco brushed past him. “I’m going to join the others.” She left without looking at them, and once again they were alone in the cabin, the air still strangely heavy.

Katsuki sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.

“Did something happen?” Izuku asked, trying to understand why the two people he loved most looked like they’d argued for some reason.

“Nothing important.” He hung the dish towel back on its hook and turned to Izuku. “So… Shouto, huh?” A half-smile appeared on the blond’s face. “I thought you weren’t into him.”

Izuku rolled his eyes. “I’m not. He’s just a friend who offered to shop with me for gifts for our friends. Besides, I’m pretty sure you already know he has someone.”

“Yeah. And was that a good enough reason to invite him tonight?”

Izuku frowned. What was his problem? “I didn’t invite him, Denki did.”

The blond clicked his tongue. “Fine… but if his damn brother shows up because of him, I swear I’ll-”

“That’s your problem? Touya?” Katsuki looked at him, angry. Izuku stepped closer. “Listen… if he comes back after what you said last time, I’ll be the one to kick his ass. Okay?”

Katsuki’s anger evaporated. He gave Izuku a small, amused smile, standing close. “You?”

Izuku nodded determinedly. “Yep! I’m stronger than you think.” He lifted an arm to show off his muscles, even though he knew he had nothing on the guy in front of him. But his goal was met when Katsuki relaxed and chuckled.

“Oh yeah, I’d pay good money to see that.” He leaned his face terrifyingly close to Izuku’s. “You couldn’t even push me into the lake, little nerd.”

Heat climbed Izuku’s cheeks. “Okay, but in my defense you’re really heav-”

He was cut off by Katsuki’s big hand clapping over his mouth, the other gripping the back of his neck. “Were you about to call me fat again?”

So close… his face might’ve been ten centimeters away, and without Katsuki’s hand in the way, Izuku might’ve melted straight into his lips.

He tried shaking his head, but he was held firmly. He stared into those beautiful red eyes he could lose himself in for an eternity, and breathed in through his nose…

He smelled orange dish soap… and behind that, a familiar cinnamon scent teased his senses.

He wanted to bottle that smell so badly. Warm, spicy, sweet, and masculine… He could breathe it in for hours and never get tired of it.

Katsuki released him quickly and turned to grab ingredients from the fridge for lunch. “So.”

“…So?”

“What’ve you got planned with Shouto?” he said, pulling out a box of veggies chopped the day before.

“Oh… I don’t really know. Shop around until we find gifts, I guess.”

“Mmh.”

Katsuki kept cooking, but didn’t ask anything else about Izuku’s plans. And that was good, because Izuku really hated lying to him, but he didn’t have a choice if he didn’t want to worry him.

“Your mom okay?”

“Oh, yeah… she… uh… she wanted to come see me, actually…” he laughed nervously. “I think she really misses me, you know.”

He didn’t miss the way Katsuki froze. “Is she coming?” he asked without turning around.

“No, I think I convinced her to stay home… She worries too much…” Izuku looked out the little kitchen window. “Besides, she couldn’t… she doesn’t even really know where we are…”

“Ah, yeah… you told her you were at a different campsite.”

“Yeah…”

“Here. Help me with the cucumbers.” He handed Izuku a cucumber and nodded at the cutting board.

Izuku grabbed a knife and started slicing.

“Fuck, what is that? Are you trying to make tractor wheels with this thing? Cut thinner!”

“Okay, Gordon Ramsay…” Izuku muttered.

“The fuck?!”

“Nothing!” Izuku smiled to himself, lowering his head back to the board.

The others returned just as lunch was served, arms loaded with groceries, and from what Izuku could see, there were a lot of chip bags and bottles of alcohol.

Two hours later, and after failing to find the campsite manager, who, by sheer coincidence, had stepped out for an indefinite amount of time, Izuku found himself in the mall parking lot.

He got out of Shouto’s car, slamming the passenger-side door. “Thanks for coming with me. I hope we’ll have better luck…”

“It’s fine. Besides, it kind of feels like a treasure hunt.”

They walked toward the entrance of the big building. “So I’m entertaining?” Izuku laughed.

“Let’s say you’re… interesting.”

“Ugh… don’t say that in front of Ochaco… she’ll get ideas again.”

“Ideas?”

“You know…” He waved vaguely. “…she might think you’re flirting with me.”

They passed through the automatic doors and were greeted by the mall’s background music and a blast of air conditioning. “She’d think I’m flirting because you’re interesting?” the taller boy asked, looking a little confused. “That’s weird.”

Izuku smiled, still amused by how socially clueless Shouto could be. It wasn’t mocking, it was almost endearing. And knowing Shouto was so honest was oddly reassuring. “Don’t try to understand it. Even I can’t figure out how her brain works, and I’ve known her for years.”

Shouto hummed in agreement.

They reached the arcade quickly, and all the anxiety that had escaped Izuku until now crashed down on him the moment his hand touched the door.

He felt like before an important exam: his legs were cotton, his stomach tightened, and his head buzzed.

At the counter there was a young girl, probably their age, blond hair in a ponytail. She wore the same uniform as the old man from last time, but her badge only showed her name, Yumi, with “staff” above it.

“Hi, welcome!” she said with a charming smile.

“Uh… hi…” Izuku stammered awkwardly. Shit. What was he supposed to ask again?

“We’re looking for information. About someone who might have been a customer here several years ago.” Shouto said, his savior. He was so calm that Izuku felt the tension in his body ease a little.

The girl looked between them, curious. Then she said, “I’ve only been working here for a year, so I can’t really help you…” Before disappointment could sink into Izuku’s shoulders, she continued “But you should ask the manager…” She tilted her head, trying to look down the arcade aisles behind them. “He must be around somewhere… You can’t miss him. He’s an old man who talks really loud.”

“Thank you!!” Izuku turned and started searching for the old man through the aisles, Shouto right behind him.

He found him near the basketball nets, with a child. “Look, kid. If you throw it like this… you’re sure to sink it!” He tossed the ball, it landed in the net without touching the rim. The boy looked amazed, grabbed a ball, and tried the same, making it drop cleanly through the hoop. “Nice job, kid!” The old man ruffled the boy’s hair before the child ran back to his parents, yelling happily that he’d scored.

The old man wore a proud expression. It was obvious he loved his job.

When he turned around, his eyes widened as he saw Izuku—and his smile vanished instantly.

“Young man, what a pleasure to see you again!” he announced cheerfully, while his eyes told a different story. “And I see you’re with a friend. Here to play?”

“Uh… no. Actually, I came to ask you questions about someone who might have come here years ago,” Izuku said.

“…Someone? You’ll have to give me more than that, kid.”

“Well…” Izuku lowered his head and closed his eyes, trying to focus on what he remembered from the boy in his dream. He straightened up and looked at the manager. “It was a little boy… five, maybe six? Uh… blond? I’m not totally sure… He was at the campsite near here twelve years ago… He should be my age now…”

The manager looked at Izuku. There was something strange in his gaze, like compassion. “Do you know how many kids come in here every day? I don’t think I can remember a kid who came here more than twelve years ago… I’m sorry.”

Not remember? But he’d remembered Katsuki… “Are you sure? A-and me? Do you know if I came here twelve years ago? I know it’s been a long time, but… wait, I have photos…” He pulled out his phone and searched his gallery. It was an old photo of him and his mom at Izuku’s ninth birthday. “Look… that’s me here… do you remember me?”

The old man looked at the photo and shook his head. “I’m sorry, young man…”

Izuku’s arms fell limply to his sides. He hadn’t had much hope, but between the manager and now this, it still hit him hard… He forced a smile anyway. “It’s okay. Thanks for listening.”

As he turned to leave, Shouto silent beside him, the old man added something.

“If I can give you some advice, young man… you shouldn’t look so far. Try focusing on what’s close to you.”

Izuku took it as a way of saying he should move on and focus on the present. He gave the old man one last smile and left.

Back in the car, he let out a deep sigh.

He was so frustrated not to have learned anything more… Of course he’d known his chances were slim… But that didn’t make him any less angry or sad.

After a moment, Shouto broke the silence. “You okay?”

Izuku looked at him and forced a bittersweet smile. “Yeah… I knew it wouldn’t be easy.”

“Mmh… we can still go back to the campsite and look for the director.” Shouto suggested as he started the engine.

“Yeah…” Izuku’s eyes widened. “Guess that’s all we can do.” He slumped in his seat and stared out the window.

When they got back to the campsite, Shouto drove straight to the reception and parked right in front of the building. They got out, and as soon as they walked inside, they saw the manager, a small man with white hair, staring at them wide-eyed. He turned and hurried down the hallway behind the reception counter.

Before he could disappear, Izuku rushed forward. “Sir, wait! I have a question!”

The manager stopped, hand on the doorknob. He looked at the two boys, then closed his eyes and sighed heavily. “Fine. Follow me.”

Izuku didn’t waste time, following the small man as he held the door open into what had to be his office, judging by the nameplate that read “Director Nezu.” It was a small room with white walls and white tiles, a bookshelf on the side full of books and binders. In the middle was a desk with a black chair, and two armchairs facing it.

Izuku sat in one, Shouto in the other, while the director sat behind the desk. “Alright. I’m listening.”

“Yes… uh, thank you for your time… I was wondering if you knew anything about the campers who were here twelve years ago.”

“Twelve years ago? That’s… a long time…” he said, squinting.

“Yes… I came here on vacation with my dad twelve years ago, and I was wondering if I… if I could find someone who was here back then.”

The room fell silent. The director looked at him suspiciously. “You know I’m not allowed to give you personal information about people who come here, right?”

“Y-yes, of course! It’s not… uh… I just want to know… if… if by any chance you heard about an accident that happened here twelve years ago.”

“Of course. The people involved were campers. Everyone around here heard about that terrible accident.” He rested his elbows on the desk. “But what does that have to do with-” He stopped. And Izuku saw the exact moment the director understood. “You’re the kid from that accident… Of course… How didn’t I see it sooner…” He rubbed a hand over his face. “I understand better now…” he muttered to himself. “But what does that have to do with finding someone you knew back then?”

Izuku clenched his fists on his knees. He explained his memory issues quickly, without going into detail, but enough for the director to understand his distress. “…That’s why I think contacting people I knew, or who knew my father here, could help me.”

“Mmh… that’s understandable.” He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Alright. What do you want to know?”

Izuku blinked, not expecting cooperation. “Uh… I… I think I was friends with a kid back then, a boy I called Kacchan. He was blond, maybe… about my age, or close…”

“…I can’t exactly give you a name with a vague description, you know.”

“Yeah, I get that… but I-”

The director raised a hand to stop him. “But… give me some time.”

Izuku tensed. “…Time?”

The man nodded. “We have photo and video archives, images taken during parties or events organized by the campsite. But since it’s been more than ten years, they haven’t been digitized yet, and it’ll be difficult for me to get my hands on them immediately… So I’ll need some time. Maybe two or three days.”

Hope surged in Izuku. There might be pictures of the little boy… better—there might even be pictures of his father! “Yes! Yes, of course, I understand!”

“Here…” He grabbed a sticky note and a pen and held them out. “Write your email address. I’ll send them to you as soon as I find them. I hope they help.” He stood, and the two boys stood as well.

Izuku thanked him sincerely as the director escorted them to the door.

“One last thing: don’t tell Bakugou any of this.” Director Nezu said.

Izuku looked at him, confused. “Huh? Why?”

“Let’s just say I have my reasons. Goodbye, gentlemen.” And the door closed in their faces.

“Do you understand what just happened?” Shouto asked, just as incredulous.

“Not really… that was super weird…”

“Yeah. But at least you’re making progress. Those images might help.”

Izuku smiled for real. Because for the first time, he truly had hope. Even if he didn’t see the blond boy in the photos, maybe he’d see himself, or his father…

He was so happy his legs started bouncing on their own. He heard Shouto laugh behind him as they walked to the car. “See? You can’t give up.” he said warmly.

And Izuku, still ecstatic, hugged him. It was a little awkward because Shouto was taller, but he didn’t care. “Thank you… thank you a thousand times, Shouto. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you…”

Shouto returned the hug awkwardly. “I didn’t do anything except help a friend.”

Izuku smiled at that and stepped back to grin at him. “That’s already a lot.”

As they got back into the car, after riding that emotional rollercoaster, Izuku realized something important.

“…We forgot the gifts…”

And just like that, they headed back to the mall to buy several things for the night, and the gifts.

It took longer than Izuku thought. When they finally got back to the campsite, it was already past 7 p.m. Ochaco had texted earlier telling them to meet everyone directly at the fisherman’s hut.

When they arrived, arms full of shopping bags, the fire was already softly crackling in the freshly placed wood inside the stone ring. It was still only embers dancing around the dark wood, like the flames were trying to wrap themselves around it.

“Finally!” Denki shouted, popping up in Izuku’s face. “You took forever! Did you get lost? Or were you having so much fun you forgot us?” He glanced at the two boys, then gave Izuku a little wink…

Shit. He was doing it too…

“There were really a lot of people in the stores today.” Shouto replied with his legendary nonchalance.

“Oooh, I see, I see…” the blond nodded.

Shouto and Denki started talking, but Izuku couldn’t hear them anymore. He couldn’t hear anything.

Because over there, farther away, behind the campfire, a few meters from the dock, Katsuki was standing with his hands in his pockets, talking to a girl.

A girl Izuku didn’t recognize.

She laughed brightly at something Katsuki said, tucking one of her black strands behind her pierced ear.

“Who is that?” Izuku asked no one in particular, eyes fixed on the scene that made him feel like he’d been stabbed.

“Oh, that’s… Mia? Mae? I don’t remember…” Denki told him. “We ran into her before coming here. She just arrived at the campsite with her family, and since she doesn’t know anyone, Mina invited her to join us.”

“I see…”

The girl placed her hand on Katsuki’s bicep, and Izuku felt his nails dig into his palms.

Warmth on his arm pulled his attention away. He turned and saw his favorite brunette smiling at him sadly. “Can you help me put all this away? We got a cooler if you want to put things in it…” Ochaco tugged him in front of the hut, where they’d set their stuff and the gifts. She was clearly trying to distract him, and he was grateful.

Sero, Kirishima, and Mina were already talking about the plan for the night. When Izuku walked up, Mina immediately made a grimace at him. “I’m sorry, sweetheart… I didn’t think she’d be… like that…”

Like that meaning Katsuki’s new fangirl. Maybe his new hookup. Whatever.

“It’s fine.” Izuku smiled at Mina. “We’re here to have fun, right?”

“Spoken like a true bro!” Kirishima yelled as he pulled beers from the cooler and handed one to everyone except himself, because apparently he was the self-appointed sober captain. “Tonight we party!”

Izuku didn’t hesitate to drink.

The night went well. They ate around the fire before it got fully dark. The flames had completely devoured the wood now.

He did everything he could not to look at Katsuki, who was sitting across from him on the other side of the fire, beer in hand, the girl hanging on his arm.

Shouto sat beside him, so Izuku leaned into that and they talked.

“You’ve never had a s’more?”

Shouto shrugged. “I’ve never really done this kind of thing in general…” He gestured at the fire.

Izuku laughed. “Me neither. Honestly, I watched videos to learn how…” He grabbed a marshmallow, skewered it on a stick, and handed it to Shouto. “Here, I’ll show you.” He took one for himself. “You hold it above the fire like this, not in it, or it’ll burn… there… wait until it’s lightly golden.” He reached for cookies, kept two for himself and handed two to Shouto. “Now you slide the marshmallow between the cookies… like this!”

Shouto copied him, his smile brightening as he finished his s’more. “I did it…”

Izuku laughed. “Yeah! Now the best part!”

Shouto raised an eyebrow, confused. “The best part?”

Izuku gave him his brightest smile. “Tasting it!” He bit into his s’more and instantly regretted it. “Ah! Shit, shit, shit! It’s hot!”

Someone handed him a bottle of water. He grabbed it quickly and drank. “…Thanks…” He looked up to see who’d given it to him.

Of course. It had to be Katsuki, the one he’d been trying to avoid all night.

“Just be careful. Stop being an idiot.” Then he went back to his spot. The brunette at his side looked confused, glancing between him and Izuku like she was trying to figure something out.

“You okay?” Shouto asked, still holding his s’more.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine.” Izuku lied, his tongue and his heart burning.

In the end, Shouto ate his cookie and swore the thing had just given him diabetes. Then he ate three more.

As the night went on and everyone had drunk one or more beers, except Kirishima, and Shouto who didn’t really like alcohol, Mina stood up to grab something from her things. She came back with two bottles of rum, cups, and a grin from ear to ear.

“Okay guys! Time to play!” She poured a drink for everyone who was drinking. “Alright, we’re playing Never Have I Ever… rules are simple: someone says a sentence starting with “Never have I ever…” If you’ve done it, you drink. If you haven’t, you’re safe!”

“Seriously? I know the kind of shit you’re gonna say, Pinky… you trying to get us all blackout drunk?” Katsuki grumbled.

She winked and sat on Kirishima’s thigh. “Soooo I’ll start! Never have I ever… had a one-night stand!” She drank.

So did Denki, Ochaco, Katsuki, and the girl on his arm.

“Babe!” Kirishima whined, pouting.

“That was before you, my love~” She loudly kissed his cheek, calming him instantly. “Okay, next!”

Sero went next. “Alright, here we go… never have I ever… been on a dating site!”

“Duuuude…” Mina sighed.

“What? I just said what came to mind!” Sero defended, drinking like everyone else except Katsuki and Kirishima.

“Wow, I get it for Bakugou, but Kirishima?” Ochaco asked, perplexed.

Kirishima grinned wide. “Never needed it. Mina’s my first, and she’ll be my last…”

“Oh my maaan…” Mina crushed him in a hug and kissed his whole face.

“Alright, alright, who’s next?” Sero asked.

“Oh!! Me!” Denki shouted, raising his hand.

Katsuki sighed. “We’re not in school, dumbass…”

Denki ignored him. “Never have I ever faked an orgasm!” Denki drank again, so did everyone else, except Izuku and Shouto.

“Wait… I can understand for girls… but guys…?” Izuku asked, curious.

Katsuki answered him, staring right into his eyes across the fire. “Dry orgasm.”

“That’s… possible?”

Katsuki gave him a dangerous smile. “What, wanna try?”

Izuku’s eyes went wide and he turned red. “N-no…”

“Alright. My turn.” Katsuki announced, surprising everyone. He never took his eyes off Izuku as he continued, “Never have I ever… fantasized about a fictional character.”

Son of a bitch.

Izuku frowned as he stared back at him, like a challenge, he accepted it and brought his glass to his lips. The others might have been drinking too, but he didn’t look. The blond was still smiling at him, diabolically.

“My turn.” Izuku said, wiping the drop of rum from his lower lip, eyes furious as he glared at Katsuki, whom he’d tried to avoid all night. “Never have I ever… had sex in a public place.”

At first Katsuki looked surprised, eyebrow lifted like he was trying to understand what Izuku was thinking saying something like that in front of everyone. But his smile didn’t fade for even a second.

Izuku vaguely heard the others reacting to his boldness. But when he and Katsuki raised their cups at the same time, never breaking eye contact, everyone froze. He heard someone cough after choking on a sip, and someone else, maybe Sero, murmur something like “No fucking way…”

Yeah… maybe he’d gone too far, because now everyone had definitely understood that something had happened between them… But you know what? Looking at the shocked, pale face of the girl next to Katsuki, Izuku didn’t care about being found out. The little green monster curled up inside him was satisfied.

“O-okay… uh… my turn!” Ochaco pulled everyone’s attention away, probably trying to help Izuku like she always did.

Izuku finally looked away, only half listening to his best friend as the alcohol started to really hit… They’d all drunk before the game, but with the rum on top, Izuku felt hot and tipsy.

He tapped Shouto lightly on the shoulder to let him know he had to go relieve himself, then stood.

He went behind the fisherman’s hut and stepped a little into the woods… He didn’t even really need to go. He just needed to be alone for a moment. Maybe to process the fact he’d just announced to everyone that he’d slept with Katsuki in a fucking public place… “What an idiot…” he groaned, kicking a pinecone.

“Tell me about it.”

He startled at the voice behind him.

He didn’t turn around, he knew he was still red, and he’d embarrassed himself enough. “What do you want, Katsuki?”

“Making sure you don’t get kidnapped by a bear.” He could hear the smile in his voice, and of course Izuku couldn’t stop his own.

“Idiot…”

He heard branches crack as Katsuki came closer. “Why won’t you turn around?” he said, closer.

“Why would I?”

“Usually, when someone talks to you…” Even closer… “You’re supposed to look at them, Deku.”

Izuku finally turned. Katsuki stood only two steps away, smirk firmly in place.

“What are you doing here, Katsuki…” Izuku asked again.

“Mmh…” Katsuki tipped his head up at the trees and the sliver of moonlight filtering through the leaves. “Needed air…”

“And you left your new girlfriend alone? Poor thing must be sad.”

Katsuki lowered his head, red eyes meeting green. “Is that contempt I hear in your voice, nerd?”

Izuku blushed. “N-no! It’s just… she must feel lonely, you know, like… since she stayed with you all night and-”

An awkward silence settled between them, mostly awkward for Izuku. What an idiot… Being in love really lowered your IQ… First the game, now this… Fuck, what was wrong with him tonight?

But he knew. Of course he knew. He’d realized it the moment he saw that girl next to Katsuki. He’d accepted it the moment she looped her arms around his, her chest pressed to his bicep. He’d let it swallow him whole until he exposed himself in front of everyone. He was just-

“You’re jealous.”

Izuku’s eyes widened at the words coming out of Katsuki’s mouth. Not because he didn’t already know it, but because he’d never wanted Katsuki to know.

“W-what? No! Why would I be-... pff, I have no reason to be jealous…” he protested, laughing nervously, looking anywhere but Katsuki.

Katsuki grabbed his face and held him there, forcing him to look. Just like that night in the showers… “You’re a really bad liar, Izuku.”

A shiver ran through him from head to toe as those gorgeous, burning eyes pierced him.

He took a step back, then another, maybe trying to escape, maybe searching for something to hold onto… He couldn’t think beyond the fingers gripping his jaw.

Then he stopped. Not by choice, but because his back hit a tree. Katsuki held him there, still staring, and Izuku had no idea what Katsuki was feeling.

“Admit it. You’re jealous.”

“Why would I-”

“Deku.” His tone was firm. “You’re jealous of that girl, aren’t you?” Then he leaned to Izuku’s ear and murmured “You’re scared I’ll go back to the cabin… take her to my room… and fuck her…”

Izuku closed his eyes and bit his lip. His whole body burned. He was wood caught in the fire that was Katsuki Bakugou.

Katsuki continued his delicious torture, lips brushing Izuku’s earlobe, the hand on his jaw sliding down to his throat, the other settling on his hip. “You’re jealous imagining me bending her over my bed… taking her until she screams my fucking name…”

Izuku could feel himself throbbing in his shorts, hands sweaty and useless at his sides, breathing speeding up as he tried to keep control.

“You’re jealous… because you want it to be you… don’t you… Izuku…” Katsuki bit his ear.

And maybe it was the arousal, maybe it was the alcohol, but Izuku couldn’t stop the desperate whisper that slipped out of him: “…Yes…”

Izuku opened his eyes, pupils blown wide, breath ragged. The word had escaped, uncontrollable, spilling the burning truth he’d tried to smother. For a second, he regretted his weakness, his vulnerability laid bare to the one person he’d tried to hide it from.

Katsuki straightened slightly, a slow, predatory smile stretching his lips. “Good… that’s what I thought…” The hand at Izuku’s throat applied light pressure, tilting his face up. Then, without warning, without hesitation, Katsuki’s lips crashed onto his.

The kiss was wild, urgent, tasting of beer, rum, and cinnamon. It wasn’t gentle, but it was everything Izuku wanted. His lips were soft, but his mouth carried a raw fervor that made Izuku melt.

Izuku responded immediately, hands grabbing Katsuki’s shoulders, pulling him even closer, desperate to absorb that heat, that presence burning him alive. Their tongues met, fierce, breath-stealing, drawing a small moan from Izuku against Katsuki’s mouth.

Katsuki pulled back slightly, their foreheads touching, breaths mingling, panting. His eyes were dark, filled with an intensity Izuku couldn’t decipher.

“I wasn’t going to fuck her.” Katsuki finally admitted, shocking Izuku into blinking.

“You… what?”

“I don’t want to sleep with her.” Katsuki repeated, stepping back to give them space to breathe. “I’m being nice because it’s Mina’s and Sero’s birthday. Otherwise I would’ve told her to fuck off.”

Izuku couldn’t hold back a laugh, and Katsuki watched him with a small smile. “What? You making fun of me?”

“N-no, I’m just surprised you’re pretending to be nice to a stranger so you don’t ruin your friends’ birthday.” Izuku giggled.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Remind me who’s the one who admitted in front of all those idiots that we did some less-than-holy things in a public place because he was jealous? They asked me if we did it in the fucking lake, Deku!”

Izuku froze and went even redder. “W-what?! What did you tell them?”

Now Katsuki laughed. “I told them to mind their own damn business.”

“K-Katsuki! They’re going to think we-... oh my god…” Izuku groaned, hiding his face in his hands.

“It’s fine, they don’t care. And honestly, I think the ones who didn’t know already had figured it out.”

“That’s… not reassuring…”

“You overthink everything…” Katsuki ruffled Izuku’s hair. “But we should go back before they come looking.”

“Yeah…” Izuku froze. “You… you kissed me…”

Katsuki raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, no shit, Sherlock. Not the first time, you know.”

“But… you said you didn’t want that with… with a friend…”

Katsuki rolled his eyes, thought for a few seconds, then shrugged and turned away. “I changed my mind.” he said, starting to walk.

Izuku stood there, stunned, mouth slightly open, eyes wide, lips swollen from the intense kiss.

He hurried after him. “What does… what does that mean?” he asked timidly, glancing at Katsuki’s profile.

Katsuki kept walking without looking at him, but a smile tugged at his mouth. “It means we only have one summer together. Might as well enjoy it.” Then his eyes shifted to Izuku and, for the first time, Izuku saw something he could name. For once, he knew what Katsuki was feeling. Because he felt it too.

Desire.

“You want… with me?” Izuku was so focused on Katsuki’s face that he didn’t see the stone he tripped on, but as always, Katsuki caught him.

“Fucking nerd! Watch it!” Katsuki steadied him. “And yeah, idiot. But I’m not doing anything with a guy who can’t even say sex.”

Izuku pushed him lightly, flustered. “I can say it! It’s just that… you surprised me…”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t expect… you to want me… for… sex…” He said the last word softly, like a whisper. Katsuki’s grin showed he noticed the hesitation, but he didn’t tease him further.

“Like what happened in the showers didn’t make it obvious?” Katsuki laughed. “I just didn’t want that kind of bullshit to ruin our friendship or whatever… But I thought about it, and those idiots I call friends remind me often enough that summer won’t last… so.” He hesitated, then added. “You can say no, of course. It won’t change anything between us either way.”

“Katsuki…”

“Mmh?”

“You’re asking me… to be your s-”

“If you finish that sentence, I’ll hang you from a tree by your stupid T-shirt.” Katsuki growled. “And who the hell wears a shirt that says ‘camping T-shirt’?!”

Apparently Izuku liked playing with death. “…Your sexfriend, I guess…”

Katsuki froze, eyes wide. He swore loudly, and this time Izuku didn’t get the chance to run, Katsuki grabbed him by the thighs and slung him over his shoulder.

“I warned you, you little demon!”

He smacked Izuku’s ass.

The poor boy was apparently drunk enough not to hold back the moan that slipped out.

And Katsuki, of course, heard it.

Izuku felt Katsuki’s shoulder tense under his hips as he kept walking. Then, amused, Katsuki said. “You never stop surprising me.”

At least he had the decency to set Izuku down before their friends could see them.

Katsuki went back to his spot by the brunette, shooting Izuku a sly smile as the girl wrapped her arms around Katsuki again. And Katsuki called Izuku a demon… what an asshole…

Izuku sat back down beside Shouto. Sero had settled on Shouto’s other side. They’d apparently been talking during Izuku’s absence.

Everyone kept drinking more than they should, except Kirishima and Shouto. At some point, Ochaco pulled out a speaker and put music on. Izuku vaguely remembered dancing with the girls to a remix of Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl where the lyrics said “I kissed a boy,” and everyone sang (or rather screamed) until their throats hurt, throwing looks and smiles at a certain blond who was devouring Izuku with his eyes.

After that, everything was dark.

Until Izuku opened his eyes with the worst headache he’d ever had. He shut them immediately, groaning at the sunlight coming through the bedroom window.

…

Wait… what?

He opened his eyes again, pain be damned. There was a window in front of him… but… there was no window in his tent…

He didn’t move, lying on his side facing the window. He was terrified he’d implode if he moved. He tried to remember the end of the night, but it was complete darkness.

Then he felt the sheet slide over his skin…

Naked…

Fuck… fuck, fuck, fuck…

Okay, breathe… at least he had boxers on…

He spotted a guitar case next to the window.

Then… breathing. Deep. Sleeping…

And movement…

An arm wrapped around him, and a warm body pressed against his back…

He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The soft cinnamon scent filling his nose made it obvious.

No… No, that wasn’t possible…

He remembered vaguely talking to Katsuki last night… They’d talked about sleeping together, right? Is that what happened?

Wait… had Izuku lost his virginity last night? And he wouldn’t even remember?!

His life was a fucking joke!