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It was sunny in early spring, peak cherry blossom season. The petals flowed in and out of the wind, filling the air with a sweet smell. The atmosphere had a certain feel to it like it was going to be a different day. A good day. Things are going to change in the cherry trees. It was perfect for a picture day.
Izuku wasn’t a really romantic guy, so when he finally admitted to having feelings for his childhood best friend it wasn’t going so well. Izuku’s self doubt always told him he didn’t deserve katsuki or that he didn’t love him back. (Which is a massive lie).
***
A pink tear-off flier was pinned all around the school on the several notice boards, with huge yellow letters saying ‘BOOK PHOTO DAY SESSIONS NOW!!’ With minor details written all across it. The small rip-off pieces of papers at the bottom all said the website name. Easy enough huh?
Izuku saw the flier a couple of times around school. Each time he saw it he was reminded of the small war in his head whether to take a massive risk and invite the Katsuki ‘Kacchan’ Bakugo or just ignore it. It was a tough battle, but who was Izuku to back down from a tough fight?
The plan was simple:
Step 1: ask kacchan to take pictures together
Step 2: the pictures get taken on the day
Step 3: confess to kacchan after photos in a nearby opening with cherry blossoms.
Would kacchan want to take pictures with me? I mean it’s not like I’m his favourite person in the world although that could be all might. Izuku’s internal monologue was screaming at him. Eventually he requested to take pictures with Katsuki explaining his thoughts in the most cowardly way possible, sending a text.
Izuku: Hey Kacchan!! Have you seen those bright pink posters around school taking pictures? Well I was hoping if you wanted to take some together and you know it’s okay if you say no.
Katsuki: I’ll think about it. If I don’t show up, don't be sad.
Yes this was a huge win in Izuku’s book even if Katsuki doesn’t show up to take the photos in the first place or if he was rejected and called weird after he was confessed. Izuku would have the photos of the final good memory they had together before Izuku broke their entire friendship.
***
“Can you at least try to smile kacchan?”
“There’s nothing to smile about”
Ugh, as much as Izuku loved and adored him, this man was a stubborn piece of TNT. Can he just stop trying to be nonchalant and smile for a single photo?
“Guys I have a full schedule booked, please hurry up” the photographer finally spoke up.
“Sorry, can we just have a minute to ourselves?” Izuku put on his best and politest smile.
“Fine 10 minutes, be done by then otherwise I’m moving on” he seemed even more tired and bothered than Aizawa. Yeesh don’t make him angry, Izuku thought to himself.
“Thank you! Now come on Kacchan”
Katsuki simply grunted in response and started following Izuku to a small opening with cherry blossoms surrounding it. It looked majestic and the perfect place to talk things out, maybe even confess.In the middle of the opening was a huge cherry tree that was gazing down upon a wooden bench.
The pair sat down next to each other, their knees touching because of how close they were.
“Kacchan, I'm sorry about this, you can leave if you want..”
Izuku wasn’t really regretting inviting Katsuki but more worried that he wasted his time.
“..Izuku, no,” came out of Katsuki after a couple moments of silence, “I chose to come here, to come to you, I just need to know first.. why did you want to take pictures with me?”
Okay that was unexpected, but of course Izuku wanted to take photos with Kacchan. He wanted to have a picture of them happily together. It would be a prized possession for Izuku, the memory before a friendship break up, the moment before Izuku snapped into the reality that Katsuki could never love him back. He couldn’t just tell him that, no he had to come up with something right now..
I don’t want him to know yet, or maybe I should just tell him. He definitely won’t appreciate me lying. Izuku's mumbling was spiraling him in and out of consciousness, his overthinking was slowly killing him within. Countless options how am I supposed to know which path to take or what path kacchan wants to take. What if it’s not even with me? I can’t confess now, or maybe I should give up completely on him..
“I-It’s because I just wanted to..?” His tone wasn’t the most pleasant like an abused child saying they’re fine. Jesus I sound so stupid, Am I good enough for kacchan? He deserves better.
“Oh, okay then..” the look of dissatisfaction on Katsuki's face was minor but noticeable to Izuku.
Damn it I said the wrong thing now he probably hates me . I’m so stupid, I shouldn't waste his time anymore.. How am I going to confess now I’ve messed up all my plans?
“-ku? Izuku? Hey?” Katsuki’s voice clicked Izuku out of his own mind games. “You okay?”
“I’m fine but Kacchan don’t feel forced to do anything with me, I know you don’t like me” or like me back.
“Excuse me? You think I hate you or something? Izuku I don’t..” Katsuki’s voice cracked for a split second. “You know that right?”
Izuku’s eyes started to well up, he doesn’t deserve katsuki in his mind. He can’t even look at the blonde anymore without feeling guilt.
Katsuki moved closer to Izuku’s face, they were breathing the same air. That move definitely made Izuku look at him. One small stir and..
Oh god why is kacchan so close to me he looks even prettier this close. What if he does like..me? I think now is a good time to do it. I’ll confess to him.
“God Izuku, everytime you mumble I always hear you confess. You’re thinking about it too much”
“What no stop I didn’t say that no wait I’m sorry uh I’ll explain it’s not like tha-“. Katsuki put his finger up to Izuku’s lips and said “stop rambling before you make it worse”
“Sorry..”
“Don’t be” Katsuki said as he grabbed Izuku’s hand, it was bigger and rougher than his but that was one of Katsuki’s favourite things about the nerd. He held his hand slowly rubbing around his knuckles in circles as a way to show comfort.
“Katsuki I can’t go on like this.. I’m in love with you. Deeply, I lay awake at night thinking about YOU! You’re my hero, you’re my everything. I can't live in a world without you. There wouldn’t be a worse thing you could say to me in the world if you reject me. I need you. Only you. You’re my rival, my idol! I want to be heroes with you in the future. I want to chase you my entire life like I always did.”
Katsuki sat there with a mesmerised gaze on his face, like he just won the lottery. Meanwhile Izuku’s heart was beating and pounding on his ribcage. They haven’t taken the pictures and he already confessed.
Does Kacchan like me back? I mean the look on his face is definitely happy, I expected a bit of anger.
“Izuku guess what,” Katsuki asked after a few moments of silence.
“W-what is it kaccha-“
Katsuki didn’t let him reply, he grabbed the nerd's face and pressed their lips together. It was soft and comforting like home and a deep sense of nostalgia like it was destined to happen and waiting for the right moment to strike.
“I like you too you damn nerd”
Katsuki grasped Izuku’s cheek once more and pressed a more certain kiss to his nerd. It felt better this time, more sure, more confident. This was Izuku’s top 3 days in his life (number one was meeting All Might and getting a quirk but still).
Izuku pulled away, pushed Katsuki away from him using his hand. A disheveled expression lied on his face, not fully regret but more of a panic..?
“KACCHAN THE PHOTOS!”
“Ugh do we have to?”
“Yes we do, I want a picture of us”
“Fine but this” he pointed at his own face and then Izuku’s “isn’t over”
“You know what, I’ll treat you to dinner if you take the pictures”
“Okay fine let’s take those photos”
They both stood up and started walking back to where the pictures were being taken. The cherry blossoms towered over the couple, the air smelled sweeter than sugar and the positivity was seeping through the pair. Izuku was humming one of his favourite tunes while walking and Katsuki was clapping along to the rhythm. Sure it was out of tune and the melody was a bit wrong but it still had a nice atmosphere around it.
Izuku quickened up the pace and started a sort of jog.“Last one there is a rotten egg!!” He shouted back at Katsuki challenging him to chase the nerd. They both knew that Izuku would win but what’s the fun in that? Nobody should back down from a challenge especially if it’s from the Izuku Midoriya. And Katsuki was definitely not going to do that.
***
The smell of sweat and laughter filled the air when the duo returned back to the original spot. The small dose of adrenaline pumped them up plus the sheer rivalry in their bones did too.
Bakugo lost but he wasn’t going to admit that, because apparently Izuku had a ‘head start’ (well he did shhh).
“Sorry we’re late sir!”
“We can take the stupid pictures now”
The man looked at them both chuckling to himself and muttering ‘young love’ as he checked the equipment, and moved a couple of things to make it all perfect. That man seemed to be truly happy for them both.
“Ready?”
“Psst kacchan”
“3”
“What”
“2”
“I like you”
“1”
The moment was frozen in time forever now, a memory of laughter and confessions. It was more perfect than anyone could ever imagine. Two lovers smiling in their joyous life,
“Glad you found something to smile about kids” the photographer told them and gave a knowing wink to Izuku.
Katsuki already stood up to leave as soon as they were done and was walking away from Izuku and the photographer. He took off his blazer and carried it across his shoulder.
“Thank you for the pictures! Bye!” the freckled boy’s bright voice rang out.
Katsuki looked back at Izuku with a loving gaze on his face. He was waiting for Izuku to catch up to him, holding out a hand to hold onto.
“So Izuku, about that dinner you were going to treat me to”
“Yup!”
Izuku took Katsuki’s hand and they walked towards the sunset and the city to buy and eat delicious food together.
For the rest of their lives they’ll chase and catch up to each other because that’s who they are and they don’t plan to change.