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‘
The air between us grew thick and I found it hard to breathe.
“I like someone.”
I felt numb, but my facial muscles stretched to turn the corners of my lips up anyways.
“I‘ll support you no matter what.”
He smiled back, a genuine one, his features highlighted by the evening glow that spilled in through the half-open window.
“Thanks.”
If I could turn back time...
‘
The monotonous droning of his teacher served as background noise to the swirl of thoughts going through Kirishima’s head. He had way too many ideas for summer fun. After the last bell rang, Kirishima leapt out of his seat eagerly.
“Kirishima!" Midoriya called out to him, having already packed his bag too. "Do you want to go home together?”
“Sorry,” Kirishima clasped his hands together and bowed his head as a form of apology. “I gotta ask a huge favour from Mina. It might take a while, so you don’t have to wait for me.” Kirishima thought he saw a dejected look plastered onto Midoriya's face and his heart twisted.
“Let’s go, Kirishima!” Quickly distracted, Kirishima felt an arm hook around his. He turned to greet Ashido, who was bursting with energy, along with her bright grin. He could not help but catch her infectious joy.
.
Before class, in class, after class.
Before class, she would run up to him and fling her arms around him. In class, they would stare at each other ever so often, love struck looks on their faces. After class, they would leave side by side. He was always following her around like a puppy tailing behind its owner. Or maybe it was just his imagination. Still, Midoriya could not help but feel his heart wrench for Kirishima grew more distant with every passing day.
“Do you think they’re dating?”
Jumping up in his seat with a distressed yelp, he whipped around to face Uraraka with her hands pressed up against her cheeks. 'Close..!' was all Midoriya's brain could register.
“U-uraraka! You startled me!” He sunk into his seat to create distance between them.
“Sorry! You okay, Deku?”
He couldn't form an answer when he spot a head of red hair from afar. Uraraka did not miss the glint of longing in his eyes.
.
The moon was nowhere in sight. Wisps of clouds that were strewn overhead drifted lazily without a care in the world. The air was slightly damp, like the grass below him, and occasionally, the breeze would come by to whisper soothingly in his ear. He couldn't ask for more.
Kirishima had went to the first place he had thought of in order to think through what he were to do with his feelings (which was the simplest term he could come up with to describe the thing that made his heart do a whole gymnastics routine around his crush). Of course, his sudden departure would have been considered suspicious had it been for the fact that no one was watching him.
“Kirishima!”
.
Wildflowers, illuminated by starlight, bloomed all around them. It was no wonder Kirishima came here to take a breather.
“How did you find me?” Kirishima had his eyebrows furrowed deep in thought.
“Ashido told me.” Midoriya paused before continuing, “I... I heard about the breakup. I'm sorry.”
"Midoriya, Mina and I were not really dating." He had expected Kirishima to say anything but that. He was surprised when Kirishima laughed it off, leaving Midoriya both confused and breathless. "She was helping me to get the person I like by giving me dating experience." He explained, twisting his side so he faced Midoriya fully. Midoriya could not help but marvel time and again at the way his eyes seemed to sparkle under the light.
Midoriya watched entranced as Kirishima scratched the back of his head sheepishly, a hint of a blush creeping up onto his face. "I'll tell you about the person I like. Feel free to make any guesses." He joked, although that didn't really help to lift Midoriya's spirits.
"The person I like is extremely kindhearted and considerate, with a smile that shines bright enough to light up the whole galaxy...”
Unconsciously, Midoriya gradually tuned out. A detached feeling of dread consumed him. He's done his research and there was a high chance that he wouldn't be the person Kirishima liked-
The latter coughed lightly. Midoriya's breath hitched in his throat. "...and he is sitting right next to me.” Did he say all of that out loud..? Wait. Did Kirishima just confess? Perhaps he was hearing things due to the suddenly unbearable heat.
“Midoriya."
He could feel Kirishima's breath on his cheek. He let his eyelids fall shut.
'I love you.'
It sent him higher than the moon when Kirishima's lips pressed up against his. It was sweet and tender and more than anything he could ever hope for. The true depth of the feelings they harboured for each other and every unspoken word was conveyed in a simple kiss. It seemed magical. As they pulled away from each other gasping lightly, the looks of pure joy on both their faces was all the reassurance they needed.
'I love you too.'
'
.
.
A vase filled with wildflowers lay on the small mahogany display table beside the bed he lied in. Happiness flooded him at the sight of the tuft of dark green at the foot of the bed. He called out though his throat was dry and ached.
“Izuku.” It came out more strained than he had expected it to be, coughing lightly afterwards. His voice was quiet, weak and trembling.
“Eijirou!” Meanwhile, Izuku sounded exactly like he did all those years ago, face bearing a smile that was warm, welcoming and familiar. He felt his hands being scooped up in a pair of strong ones which were holding on to his so gently, as if they would shatter like glass. His heart stung when he saw tears pooling at the corner of his lover’s eyes. “You’re okay.”
His vision blurred as tears, too, pricked at the corner of his eyes. He opened his mouth to reply, only to be shushed with a peck on the lips. Blood still rushed to his cheeks despite the number of times they’ve kissed.
“Do you want me to get the others? They’re all waiting for you.”
He shook his head slowly. “Be with you.”
He watched as a wide smile spread across Izuku’s face. “Okay.” Izuku complied to his wishes, letting go of his hands briefly to shift the chair closer to him.
They sat together in silence, doing nothing admiring each other. The sunlight that poured into the room reminded him of the shore, the white curtains that swayed in the breeze like the sea. He was forgetting something. He could not figure out what.
How did it come to this?