A Box Of Hope

When the first-year class finally received their hero costumes, excitement buzzed in the air like electricity. Everyone had worked hard on their designs, and the big reveal in the training stadium was the highlight of the day.
And then

Izuku Midoriya walked out looking like a miniature Mirko.

His hero suit was all white and sleek, high-cut around the thighs with a sleeveless torso, strong boots, and snug fabric hugging every curve. His bunny ears twitched proudly, and his little tail stuck out behind him like a puffball of fluff. He beamed, emerald eyes sparkling as he posed with a fist in the air.

“I tried to look like a strong bunny hero!” he said. “Mirko-senpai is amazing!”

Aizawa's eye twitched so hard it could’ve popped out of his skull.
“Izuku…” his voice dropped into a grave whisper, “…we need to talk.”

Hizashi was already wheezing in the background. “He’s so confident! Our little bunny is growing up!”
And Bakugo? Bakugo died.

His brain short-circuited the moment he saw Izuku. One second, he was yelling at Kaminari, and the next, he turned, saw Deku, and his soul left his body.

“WHAT THE—DEKU—WHAT ARE YOU—?!” he shrieked, face a full explosion of crimson.

Izuku blinked innocently. “Is it bad?”
Bakugo whirled away, slapping both hands over his face like that would stop the mental images. “WHY IS IT SO SHORT—YOU’RE SHOWING—THAT’S ILLEGAL—!”
“I thought it was heroic…” Izuku said, fiddling with his gloves.

“NO! No more Mirko cosplay for you!” Bakugo shouted.

Aizawa was already storming over, a large blanket in hand. “Put this on. Now.”
“But—Sensei—”

“No buts. You’re 15. Your legs are too powerful. This is a school, not a runway.”

Izuku pouted, ears drooping. “But I liked it…”

Aizawa draped the blanket around him like a cloak. “You can like it at home. Your new design will be more appropriate.”

Hizashi gave a thumbs-up in the background. “Still keeping the bunny vibe, though. Just with pants!”
Izuku looked up at Bakugo, worried.

“Kacchan… did I really look weird?”
Bakugo turned, face still red, eyes fierce.

“You looked—too cute,” he snapped. “Dangerously cute. Like I was about to combust, and I hate that.”
“…Is that a good thing?”

“YES—NO—I MEAN—ARGH!”
There was a long pause.

Then Izuku stepped closer, tugging lightly on Bakugo’s sleeve.

“I like it when you call me cute,” he whispered shyly.

Bakugo’s brain exploded. Again.
Aizawa sighed. “If either of you kisses in front of me, I’m transferring you both.”
But the moment had shifted. Bakugo was still red, still stammering—but he looked down at Deku and, for once, didn’t snap.

“…You’re an idiot,” he muttered softly.
Deku giggled. “I know.”

Later that day, a revised version of Izuku’s costume arrived. Still bunny-themed—white jacket, tighter-fitting pants, gloves with built-in shock absorbers for his quirk, and reinforced boots.
He loved it.

Bakugo still stared too long.
And Aizawa still glared at everyone who did.

But as they walked home together—Deku hopping along, humming, ears bouncing, and Bakugo glancing at him with a soft, private smile—it was clear that some things had changed.

“I like you, Kacchan,” Izuku said out of the blue, looking up.
Bakugo froze. “…Y-Yeah?”

“Yeah. You’re loud and grumpy and you always yell, but you take care of me.”

Bakugo grinned, heart pounding. “Damn right I do.”
And behind them, watching from the shadows, Aizawa sighed.

“My son is dating a human grenade,” he muttered.
Hizashi handed him a juice box. “Welcome to parenthood.”

THE END