A Box Of Hope

Years had passed, and UA High bustled with new students and the buzz of hopeful heroes. Among them were two names that the teachers already knew by heart:

Bakugo Katsuki, hot-headed and explosive as ever except around one person.

And Midoriya Izuku, still a little smaller than his classmates, still sporting his soft green bunny ears and fluffy tail, and still managing to trip over his own shoelaces at least once a day.

But now, Deku smiled more easily. Laughed freely. Walked with more confidence.

Thanks to a childhood full of love and late-night cuddles with Aizawa, lectures from Hizashi about "coolness," and years of friendship with one very loud blonde boy-Izuku had grown into someone strong, kind, and endlessly lovable.

Especially to one Bakugo Katsuki.
"Oi, Deku!" Bakugo called from across the classroom.
Izuku blinked up from his notes, his ears twitching. "Kacchan?"

"You forgot your water bottle again, dumbass," Bakugo grumbled,
tossing it toward him. "You'd lose your tail if it wasn't attached."

"Ah-thank you!" Izuku beamed, catching it with both hands.
Bakugo looked away, muttering something incoherent.

Everyone in class watched the scene with poorly hidden amusement. It was obvious. So painfully obvious.

Bakugo sat beside Deku. Carried his bag when he was too tired. Threw hands with anyone who even joked about teasing him.
He had it bad.
And Deku? Sweet, gentle Deku?

He just smiled and blinked and continued on his bunny way, completely unaware.

"He still doesn't get it," Kaminari whispered.

"Mmm," Jirou nodded. "I give it a month before Bakugo explodes."
Todoroki, seated nearby, looked between the two boys and said, "I thought they were already dating."
"Nope," Mina whispered. "Bakugo's pining. Deku's... Deku."

Meanwhile, Bakugo leaned toward Deku and snapped, "Eat more at lunch. You're too scrawny."

Izuku nodded. "Okay, Kacchan. Want to share the carrot sticks again?"
Bakugo choked slightly.

"I like carrots," Deku added cheerfully. "You always save the crunchy ones for me."
Bakugo grabbed a pen and looked like he was about to combust.

Later that day, during training, Bakugo nearly blew up a robot trying to protect Deku-even though Deku had already taken it down.

"Did you see that?" Mina whispered. "He tried to act cool and tripped over his own feet."

"He's smitten," Sero said.
And Deku? He simply looked over his shoulder, green eyes shining.
"You okay, Kacchan?"

Bakugo stared at him and muttered, "I hate you," under his breath.
Deku laughed, completely misunderstanding. "I love you too, Kacchan!"

Bakugo made a sound that could only be described as a broken kettle hissing and had to walk it off before he exploded.

Behind them, their classmates cackled. Aizawa sighed deeply from the observation booth.

Hizashi whispered next to him, "Place your bets. Confession by the school festival?"
Aizawa sipped his coffee. "Or Bakugo combusts before that."