#chwhwn

[mudhamster]

Guys, I had an epiphany

Last year I wrote "Can he woo him with niceties", a Christmas-themed fluffy fic with 1 chapter per day in December - and it went through the roof (at least on my scale). Yesterday, as I was minding my own business in the vegetable section, I was struck with an idea for part two: The simplest way would be: let Katsuki write 24 notes. AHEM, no. He would never write even one. Never ever. So what about dares? Sneaky little dares? That's more like him!

I thought about them 4 or 5 years deep into an established relationship, sharing an apartment, working together yadayda.

The work title is "Can he dare him to... say yes?" And of course I already have an ending planned (and a plottwist ghaha) and tons of time left until December to come up with various dares by myself…. BUT!

Is there (maybe) anyone here on tumblr who would like to submit some of their own ideas? Funny dares, kinky dares, stupid dares…. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 31. December - " an ear / advice "

It was quite late already and Izuku was struggling with unknown amounts of cloth, wrapped in layers, and time was running out in the narrow space of the bathroom.

"Ready?" Kacchan's voice sounded muffled through the raffia of the bathroom door and still, Izuku flinched. He was nervous. On a scale of 1-10, an honest 100. Never before had he had such high quality material on his body as he did at this moment. On top of that, he smelled exactly like Kacchan. His sleeves, his collar, everything. 

"In a minute!" he squeaked back, trying to tie the knot the way Masaru had shown him yesterday - when impatience in person pushed open the bathroom door and Izuku's head shot up - and his breath caught in his throat. 

"What's taking so long - what?" hissed Katsuki and stopped in the doorway when he saw Izuku's expression. Izuku blinked, momentarily awestruck. He knew Kacchan in his hero costume. In a suit. In sports clothes or swimming trunks. But the sight of his body in that sleek, handsome look left him speechless. He recognized the same handwriting in the design of the fabric, the thin orange-red seams, the silver accents and the detailed embroidery. Only the cranes had given way to delicate explosions and aesthetic fire patterns. They did something to Katsuki's eyes that made a warm wave of affection slosh around in Izuku's stomach. Two small black hairclips were stuck into the blond strands behind his ears.

"What's wrong? Is there shit on my face?"

Only when he raised his head, did he see Izuku shaking his head, also dressed in velvet and silk, with a belt that was completely twisted.

"Incompetent as always, huh?" 

He stepped into the bathroom, inevitably in Izuku's comfort zone, and reached around him to twist the belt properly.

"Kacchan," Izuku breathed against his shoulder, bending back enough to face him again and whispering under his breath, "You're gorgeous."

Time froze, as did Katsuki's hands on Izuku's hips. 

The bathroom was small and Izuku's eyes unintentionally wandered to the mirror next to them. 

His cheeks immediately flushed when he got the split-second image that the hands on his belt and his bent posture could also stand for something else entirely. It looked as if Kacchan was only centimeters away from kissing him.

But as if he had heard his thoughts, Kacchan only pulled hard on the belt once, inadvertently bringing Izuku a step closer to him, before he expertly rewound the knot and stepped back. 

Unseen steam shot out of Izuku's green curls as Katsuki also brought the rest of the kimono into place. 

"I-"

"Is it true that you didn't want to go to the shrine this year?"

Katsuki furrowed his brow, distracted from his original thought, and backed away slightly.

"Hm," he muttered and Izuku also took a step back until he bumped into the sink, "Why?"

"Since I drew the first horoscope, it always came true within one year."

Izuku raised his eyebrows, baffled by the thought that Kacchan actually believed in things like horoscopes or New Year's oracles. 

"Really?"

He didn't know much about such things. Neither he nor his mother had ever drawn oracles. If he was honest, he had too much respect for them, or maybe he was afraid of drawing something bad. So he had kept his hands off from the beginning. He and his mother had been content to say their prayers, leave a small donation, and then stroll through the crowds after dropping off their elderly companion on a park bench with a hot drink. 

"Yes."

Kacchan held the door open for him and they walked down the dark hallway side by side.

"But not the last one?" he questioned, slipping on his shoes. 

On the lamp-lit porch, Katsuki hesitated for a moment and pulled a crumpled piece of paper from a deep pocket of his kimono, holding it up to the light with a pout.

"No," he said quietly, "and I didn't want to get a new one while I still had this one."

The note was folded several times making it impossible to read what it said, so Izuku asked, "What does it say?"

Instead of answering, Katsuki tapped the note on the tip of his nose and put it away.

"None of your business."

But Izuku, gripped by curiosity, couldn't help but ask further: "But – but we're going? Has something changed? Has it finally come true?"

The wind came up and made a small wind chime sound in the neighbors' garden. The air already smelled of candles and the sweet smells of the New Year. 

A car horn broke the peaceful atmosphere and Izuku spun around with one hand raised in a small wave and jumped down the next three steps at once. It seemed as if Mitsuki's patience had run out. Katsuki caught up with him immediately, footsteps crunching in the snow as he replied cryptically, "Feels like it, yeah."

They made it to the car, and even though Izuku was still full of questions, Kacchan was immediately wrapped up in a fiery conversation with his mother, so Izuku began to wonder about the oracle. And the small piece of paper he had in his breast pocket. The last piece of the calendar, the 24th. It weighed what felt like 170 kilos and was placed right above his heart.

Today was New Year's Eve. 

At midnight, the 24th would burn if Kacchan wouldn't do something. And that was in just over two hours.

The way was long even by car. There were countless people on the streets and they were forced to park the car a little further down the mountain and take the steep path to the shrine on the hill with everyone else. No problem for Izuku nor Katsuki, but strangely enough, about halfway up, a problem for his parents' stamina. 

"We'll go up ahead," their son announced harshly before grabbing Izuku's elbow and leading him further to the side, onto the uneven part of the road where they could make faster progress. He was obviously in a hurry, so no one objected. Izuku turned for a last wave and noticed Mitsuki's impish smile. 

She wasn't out of breath at all.

Arriving at the top of the shrine, time flew by as quickly as dozens of beaming faces and Izuku almost bit his tongue to keep from asking for the two remaining notes when he realized that the new year would start in less than an hour. 

They had been at the altar, had knelt down to pray and Izuku had picked up an oracle that he would not open until the old year was finally over. Which was precisely the reason why he was getting more and more antsy.

But then: "Deku".

Suddenly, he was pulled away from the street, up two small wooden stairs to an empty place with several small lanterns, and Katsuki took off his thin gloves and blew warm air into his fingers. Then he pulled something out of his pocket and lifted it into the warm light. It was even smaller than the folded oracle note, but Izuku only realized what was going on when he heard the words "an ear" being read aloud. Kacchan did it. He used the first of the two remaining notes. To the sound of the shrine chimes. Over the murmur of prayers. NOW. BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

"God. …fuck. Fuck." Izuku was still struggling with where to put himself or his hands or his thoughts in general as he watched Kacchan who was obviously struggling with himself. 

"I'm 10 seconds away from chickening out," he finally admitted, his lips pressed together.

"You would never do that," Izuku replied immediately, terribly nervous at the thought that Kacchan would actually open the last notes. He had expected it. But somehow, he did not. 

"No. No, not really. But I .... fuck." And then he chuckled weakly and pushed a hand deep into his hair. 

"Okay. I interpret that," Katsuki waved the note in front of Izuku's nose until his eyes crossed briefly, "to mean that I can tell you something that stays between us. Right?" 

Izuku's heart melted into a heart-shaped puddle when he saw the vulnerability in Kacchan's eyes. His eyebrows had knitted together, the tiny wrinkle of worry between them that he saw less often these days than All-Might in his filled shape.

He felt like he'd been dumped on a beach seconds before a tsunami was about to crash in and tear him apart.  His ears tingled. He could feel the thin line between them more clearly than ever, for they were seconds away from crossing it or breaking apart.

"Yes," he nodded, unable to take his eyes off Katsuki for even a blink, "but I - "

"How much longer do I have?"

"What?"

"Until midnight, Izuku. Until New Year."

"Oh - no idea?" he replied hastily, "30 seconds?"

"Okay, listen carefully. I'm only going to say this once," Katsuki raised his head to the sky, pursed his lips and crumpled the note into a fist before he whispered to the clouds, "I have a serious thing for... that boy."

Izuku watched as Kacchan swallowed hard, his eyes still on the sky, "A cute one, with ... ugh. Green hair. Freckles. Shitty style... the loser who made me a calander this year, and fuck if that wasn't the bravest shit ever."

Izuku stared at him, mouth agape, as if Katsuki was the most precious creature in the universe. Snow blew into his mouth. He didn't notice.

Somewhere in the distance, the last, loudest chimes of the year began, and Katsuki almost let the second note slip from his fingers as he tried to smooth it out: "So, um, yeah. Advice, Deku. How do I ask him out?"

"Ugh," Izuku trembled as goose bumps spread all over his body as he too pulled out the last piece of paper and held it out to Katsuki, "You should check out 24."

He could feel his heart beating in his throat when Kacchan just stood there for a long time without moving. But eventually, he took the paper and carefully unfolded it.

Izuku sent his last prayer of the year while Katsuki took a deep breath.

"Please ignore it if you feel uncomfortable," Katsuki read, "But I'd like to give you a -" he unrolled the paper even more and continued reading, his voice suddenly cracking and hoarse, "A ... a kiss, if you want one."

People passed around them. The final gong sounded and the crowd began to cheer, while Izuku's entire focus was on the boy in front of him. Again, he did not move. But suddenly, he bit his lower lip so forcefully that Izuku dropped one of his own gloves in shock. Surely, nobody who was happy looked like that?

"Kacchan, oh my God, you don't have to...!"

The first rocket of the new year exploded with colorful sparks above their heads. 

"Now."

More explosions crackled through the night sky and Izuku breathed out a soft "What?" in disbelief.

Had he heard wrong? No. 

"I want one. Now."

"For the new year?"

"Exactly." Katsuki waved the note excessively, "and I want you to give it to me. Now."

"I never thought we'd get this far," Izuku choked out, tongue heavy and eyes moist with disbelief and hope, "I wanted to woo you with sweetness, but this - I never thought I'd make it - I...?"

They looked at each other. 

"You have. If you don't chicken out now. Just like all the other moments before."

"What moments?"

More and more sparklers lit up the snow on the other side of the street and Izuku cast a glance over until Katsuki continued to speak. 

"Use your brain, Deku. As soon as I made the slightest move, your signals were so... so damn irritating. Suddenly no answers, running away, lying..."

Well, Izuku had heard enough. Enough of confusing signals and implications. This would be a straightforward matter. Determined, he stepped forward and reached for Kacchan's collar to drag him down a bit. Katsuki immediately followed the demanding yank and their lips met after the tiniest second of hesitation, just as a particularly violent explosion showered them with golden sparks. The tingle of the century shook his whole body, from the top of his head to the cold toes in his red sneakers.

It was perfect. There was nothing more romantic than kissing in the colorful glow of dying sparks.  It took his breath away.

Izuku, totally high, totally overwhelmed, backed away a little when he felt an arm trying to wrap itself around his middle. This was way too close to his dreams. Kacchan would never kiss him, would he? Not on Christmas and especially not on New Year's Eve! There was a tradition that people kissed at midnight, "more," Kacchan's growl interrupted his thoughts. His lips tingled as warm breath slid over them, and Kacchan's cold nose slid along his, and he kissed the corner of his mouth lightly, "one more."

His lips were easily captured, their mouths like freshly activated magnets, and his eyes fell shut in surrender. 

"T-take as much as you need," he said between kisses that went that perfect little bit deeper each time.

"I'll take what you want to give."

"Everything then."

Kacchan grinned against his mouth, "Sounds like it all worked out pretty well after all," and slipped his old oracle note into Izuku's fingers as he interlocked their hands and pushed him out of the crowd, into the lantern-lit darkness of the night beside the shrine.

"Won't you get a new one?" breathed Izuku, his other hand deep in the black velvet of Kacchan's kimono collar.

"Nah, got everything I ever wanted."

With that said, he kissed Izuku even harder than before, declaring in his own way, that they were starting their new year with a pretty deep level of connection.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 13. December - "quirk analysis"

Kacchan: Deku deku deku *image attached* You still think you can tell me things about myself that I don't know Deku: That's a fact I guess everyone you ask could tell you something about yourself that you don't know yet Or don't want to realize Or want to hear Which is why you don't ask anyone Which brings us back to the beginning Anyway It doesn't have to be about you Kacchan: It's always about me. You write books (plural!!)about me Deku: I write books about everyone Kacchan: and yet, there are more than 2 about me Deku: how do you know that Kacchan: I've been in your room Deku: Less than 20min ⊙︿⊙ Kacchan: Didn't even need 2 to figure that out … Do you have a book about yourself? Deku: More than 2... I've about one book for every 2 quirks Kacchan: Or 2 books for one Quirk ghehe Deku: oh my god Kacchan, yes, you're so so SO special :D Why did you ask Kacchan: I want to see your notes about yourself. Deku: Seriously? There are much more interesting ones, though? Kacchan: My note, my will Your room or mine? Deku: mine...?

And although Izuku had thought a lot in the few minutes that had passed before Katsuki knocked, he had never expected how smoothly the other would step over the threshold into his nerdy safe space. He found his usual place by the bed, just like the last time, and waited, almost without looking annoyed, until Izuku wordlessly handed him what he wanted to read. The notebook. This, and then… a lot more. Minutes passed unnoticed, then hours, and finally, with a half-hearted glance at his alarm clock, he realized that they had already been sitting there longer than it would have been possible on any other day, like the movie night. Countless notebooks around them, open and filled to the brim with sticky notes. Izuku didn't even notice when Katsuki grabbed the notebooks about himself and his explosions from the shelf. They talked and talked and laughed and talked some more and then they compared their achievements, added the notebook about Shouto to their comparison scale and suddenly it was way past midnight - and Izuku couldn't believe it when he briefly checked the time with the first pangs of real tiredness. "Wow," he breathed, eyes glued to the clock, "if we had watched a movie last Wednesday, we would have finished much earlier than today." "Yeah, it escalated a bit." "Things always escalate with you. It comes with friendship." Kacchan takes a breath, looks at him, then nods.

"Right." And suddenly the question crossed his mind, as it had a thousand times that day: Had Kacchan already drawn 'the hug'? And as always, he couldn't stop himself and asked what he had to ask: "Do you want to do… ugh……. one of the other two notes? Maybe?" Because… if it was the hug… then today would be a good day for it, wouldn't it? But Katsuki just took a quick peek at his bed and Izuku's guts took the bottomless elevator down to the basement. WHAT. Why… the look at the bed???!!!????? "Not today." WHAT?!!!? Izuku became metaphorically deaf as the voice in his head screeched out all the questions at the highest frequency possible. Just a welding seam would have closed his mouth tighter than it already was. He couldn't say a word as he watched Kacchan carefully piling up the notebooks and then searching for his cell phone. Right, they had been talking so much that they hadn't had a phone in their hands for more than four hours. But of course, Izuku knew where it was. "I plugged it in earlier, … it's on my nightstand." …. next to a picture of them - Katsuki and Izuku - and suddenly he realized that Kacchan would see the picture. It was turned, not visible from any other angle in the room. But would he sit down on his bed, close enough to the pillow to unplug his phone ---- "WAIT, wait I'll get - Kacchan -!!" But … the mobile was already in his hand. And to Izuku's world-ending shock, the picture as well. He wanted to faint. On the spot. Suddenly, he felt naked, as if he had been put in the stocks, stripped and splashed with cold water. Was it too much? Was it too obvious? Did Kacchan know from the picture that he had more in mind than the platonic deepening of their friendship? Crap. CRAP. But with each passing day, they were getting closer to the end anyway. The end that would decide whether Kacchan and Deku would be one step closer to being MORE than friends next year, or whether they would be nothing at all. In the long run, it was inevitable. In those 10 seconds that Izuku had a severe pre-crisis, Kacchan had put the picture back and grabbed his backpack. As if he hadn't seen anything. As if such a picture, kept almost secret, was something normal. Not worth mentioning. "See you tomorrow, nerd," he said. So casually, so banally, nudging Izuku's shoulder, who almost had an out-of-body experience by the touch. And then the door closed and Izuku's eyes almost popped out as he stared like crazy from the door to the picture and back to the door. What - the - flip.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 24. December " TRUST? "

"Wh-what's that?" Izuku had stayed in the background all day, perfectly content to exist on the sidelines in the warmth and buzz of the Bakugou family. Now, however, Katsuki had found him in the kitchen and a matchbox was held out to him. "I knew something was wrong with you since that damn day," Katsuki replied cryptically and let the box fall into his hands. It wasn't wrapped or decorated, so Izuku opened it curiously and discovered the note with The Hug glued inside. He remembered the day and asked quietly, "Because I didn't answer you?" "Yup." "Sorry," he said, still looking at the written word in his hand, "It was the day I told Mom that we were all going to celebrate together while Shouto and Ochako had just left. It was a bit much." He heard a snort in front of him, "You lied to your mother." "She would NEVER have left me behind otherwise." Arms crossed in front of his chest, Katsuki slumped against the fridge and tilted his head, "America, huh?" he asked, "And you let that pass you by?" "I guess so," Izuku sighed, expecting to feel regret and leaned against the counter right next to the fridge. But the feeling didn't come. Instead, he took a deep breath, the smell of Kacchan's home and spiced tea heavy in his throat, and a small smile spread across his face.

He felt more at home here than at any Christmas before. Being part of a wild household that couldn't exist in the same room for more than an hour was so much more enjoyable than doing the same thing every year. He was … happy here. They were standing next to each other by now, and he was able to continue speaking softly, eyes on their feet, both in socks and slippers, "I didn't think. Mom always gave everything to me… and when I moved into the dorm, she was so lonely. And then her new partner came. She had been alone for months before that, so I thought I could do it too. For her." And for Kacchan. Because he couldn't have fulfilled the 24 from another continent, even if he wanted to. But in the end, he was the one who benefited the most from the whole situation. Katsuki raised his eyebrows with a nod and then clicked his tongue. "That all sounds great, Deku. But I'm tired of waiting." "What?" When a hand suddenly made an effort to reach for the matchbox, the penny finally dropped for Izuku and he whirled around: "Oh - wait!" And then he wrapped his arms around Kacchan's middle, buried his nose deep in Kacchan's dark green Christmas sweater and pawned his heart to the devil so he wouldn't cry like a baby for ONCE and ruin the expensive sweater under his cheek. "But you still can't open the 24," he murmured against the warm fabric, sighing as he rubbed his cheek against Kacchan's shoulder, feeling all the tension in his body suddenly dissipate. This was his safe place, arms around him in a gentle embrace that would otherwise melt stone, a beating heart against his face. The place he had always wanted to conquer, even though he had never been there before. "I know." Kacchan's voice was close and low, right next to his ear, and he realized that they were still in the embrace. Izuku tightened his grip as much as he could and then put the cards on the table. "There are two open notes. And I know which ones, so if…" "Give me until New Year's Eve."

His heart did a tiny somersault. Theoretically, Kacchan had just had the chance to end everything platonically. But here they were. For almost a minute, they held each other tightly, as if Izuku wasn't the only one who longed for this kind of touch and Katsuki had just asked for more time. "Huh. Sure. I mean, I guess there will be an opportunity until then, right?" Because that was the rule, no matter how long he asked for time. He wouldn't be allowed to open the last note until all the others had been fulfilled. "Yeah. Maybe." Katsuki lowered his arms and took half a step back. The light from the kitchen shone on his cheeks and between the blond strands of hair, Izuku discovered red ears. But before Izuku could write a mental love letter about the reflections in the red of his eyes, Kacchan pulled the very last sealed note out of his pants pocket (did he always carry them all with him!?) and slipped it into the small, gift-shaped pocket on Izuku's Christmas sweater. "Take care of it until I can open it, okay?" Izuku put his hand over the small pocket. "If it's not opened by midnight on New Year's Eve, it will be destroyed." "'Kay. Now give me my present." "You what?" said Izuku astonished, "I - I don't have a - " "I thought so," Katsuki snorted, "I had saved the damn Joker for that." "You saved it on purpose? Do you have a plan for all those notes?" "Of course?" "I thought you - you said you didn't need them - Kacchan. The first note, - that was -" "December 11th, yes."

Izuku looked at him in astonishment as he went on after a shrug, "Admittedly, I wasn't really sure about it all back then, but as time went on… I thought that if you started something like this, I could take it further." "Until New Year's Eve." "Exactly." "With a plan." Katsuki nodded and Izuku had never felt a stronger need to kiss him than at that moment. So close, so familiar, within reach. Kacchan's eyes watched him, intense and attentive, and something in Izuku gave way. An unexpected gentle understanding poured into his mind like warm honey, coating all the places where worry had gnawed or fear had taken root. Katsuki played along. It was Christmas, they were together, and Kacchan had demanded the hug. He'd had a plan since December eleventh. Everything inside him squeezed as he wondered about the goal of the plan, as he looked up at Kacchan's waiting face, not a hand's breadth away. Izuku allowed himself the wondrous thought that they both wanted this, that there was nothing to worry about. That this was really happening. Izuku wanted Kacchan. And Katsuki wanted Deku. The thought was enough to make him stand on his toes and brush his mouth over a heated cheekbone. He felt Kacchan's whole body shudder, paused in his position until he could take a deep breath and then stepped back. "Merry Christmas, Kacchan."

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 10. December - "joke"

Kacchan: *image attached* Deku: Are you in the bathroom? Kacchan: Yup Deku: And why do you have the note with you? Kacchan: I just opened it. Forgot it this morning. So I'm all ears Deku: For the joke? Alrithty! Buckle up! The joke is about you. Kacchan: WHAHAHA Deku: That was not the joke Kacchan :DD Kacchan: :D Deku: :D They always say BakuGO but never BakuSTAY ahaha (ᕑᗢूᓫ∗) Kacchan: wtf This is the weirdest shit I ever read. God damn Deku: But did you laugh? Kacchan: No!!!!!? I bet you did I laughed harder this morning when you banged your elbow on the door handle in the kitchen. Your attempt to cover it up. THAT WAS A GOOD JOKE Deku: Okay, I've got another one. Iida told me: Why did the Scarecrow get a big Christmas bonus? Kacchan: Lame Deku: Because he was excellent in his field Kacchan: Ok stop I learned another thing you suck at. Please never tell me a joke again Deku: Harhar Do you know any good ones? Kacchan: No. Denks and Kirishima are in charge of jokes. Deku: Okay I ...am meeting Shouto and Momo downstairs in an hour to study. For the math test tomorrow. If you want to come, you can. I like the way you explain math to me. Kacchan: Uh-huh Deku: Yea, straight and without jibber-jabber Shouto and Momo never get to the main point when I have a specific question. Kacchan: Then why do you study with them? Deku: Because they asked me ʅ(°ヮ°)ʃ And I didn't have any plans for tonight. Except jogging Kacchan: What time? Deku: Just before dinner Kacchan: I'll come with you. Jogging Write me a message Deku: And you don't want to study with us? …? Ok, apparently not. :D

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 22. December - "? ?"

"The trains suck tomorrow. Mom wants me to come today. Besides, it's supposed to snow like hell," Katsuki announced over his cup of coffee, already checking the train schedule on his cell phone. He scratched his chin and frowned, and in the next moment, the sight of a yawning, bed-haired Katsuki was burned into Izuku's memory forever. They sat at the breakfast table, just the two of them on the first day of vacation, and Izuku buttered his last wobbly slice of toast when he casually replied, "I only have a weekend ticket." "Then buy one for today." Izuku blinked at him, "Why?" "To go home?!" Katsuki replied with a look as if Izuku was stupid. Today? With Kacchan? To a completely empty apartment? Unintentionally, he looked at the small Christmas tree in the corner of the room. "I can't go," he said without further ado and then stopped for a moment, "I still have to… buy presents. I'll go… tomorrow. At noon. There'll be a train, don't worry, Kacchan." The toast crumbled under the force of the knife tip and Katsuki raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Uh-huh." He could feel Kacchan's undivided attention on him as he reached for the peanut butter between them. His neck tingled. His mouth suddenly tasted like paper. He was getting warm. "When will you be back?" he finally burst with tension, "Before or after the New Year?" Katsuki immediately reflected the question back to him, "What about you?" "I don't know yet…" "Are you going to the shrine? On New Year's?" "Uh. Um," He usually did. With his mother and their old neighbor, who was too frail to walk up the steps alone. He liked the tradition, but there were certainly more pleasant alternatives than starting his New Year as a crutch for an old woman he barely knew. The only question was which? "Maybe. I don't know yet." With a loud thump, Katsuki slammed his cup down on the table. If it hadn't been empty, the table would be caffeinated now "Why are you acting so weird?" "What do you mean?" "I can't put my finger on it," he mused, obviously annoyed, looking disparagingly at Izuku across the table, "but it annoys the hell out of me."

"Sorry Kacchan," he said honestly, meaning it with every fiber of his being. "Whatever," he mumbled, twirling the empty cup between his fingers and Izuku watched as the image on it changed in the light of the kitchen. Izuku hated lying. And it was even worse to lie to Kacchan while they sat together at the breakfast table, enjoying the most humble but fulfilling simplicity. But since the second Kacchan had told him that he was leaving today, his head had been caught in a too fast roundabout. So much was still open. If Kacchan was leaving today, there were still so many unused notes that it seemed almost impossible to open 24. However, the change in his plan also meant that they were no longer guaranteed to be in the same neighbourhood for Christmas. Sure, he could go home tomorrow and sit on the couch and do everything he usually did with his mom and wait to see if Kacchan got in touch by Christmas. But what if he didn't? He honestly didn't know what would be worse. Getting the rejection while he was sitting at home in an undecorated apartment, or while he was sitting here and at least had the space to distract himself from the disappointment by exercising? "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

His mind was overloaded, that was what was wrong. He desperately tried to bring order to the pitiful remains of his plan.

"What - what, what did you get today?" "You wanna know, huh?" but from the way Kacchan rose from his chair, Izuku knew that he wouldn't get an answer. With both hands on the backrest and an odd look that Izuku couldn't interpret, Kacchan stood behind the chair, "I'll tell you when we go to the shrine …together. Just you and me." On New Year's Day. A week after Christmas. Was he home on New Year's Day? Would he be home at all? Would his mother be home? "…oh…okay," he nodded vaguely. He would make sure that…he…and Kacchan…WHAT? Were going to the shrine together?! Just as he took a breath to express how surprised he was by this offer (hello, him and Kacchan, New Year's tradition, romantic!!), Kacchan beat him to it. "Why the hell aren't you excited?" he snapped at him, grabbing the cup and catching Izuku's perplexed look. They both started talking at the same time. "K-kacchan, I -" "We've never been -" Katsuki was the first to look away, a blush of confusion and disappointment on his face. "I'll be there!“ Izuku said, confused and overwhelmed, “I'm looking forward to it, honestly!" "Just forget it."

Kacchan stomped out of the kitchen and Izuku looked at his toast, in his mind swirling thoughts of the shrine. Of the moment when the bells rang and prayers were said and new horoscopes were drawn. His own from last year was still in the desk drawer at home. It had predicted a great change for him - and he had received it. The idea of going to the shrine with Kacchan was so strange and yet so wonderful that he didn't want to let it fail. He pulled out his phone.

Deku: I know there was no promise in the calendar. But I'll make one anyway: I'll be there for New Year's. I'll pick you up and you pick a shrine. Okay? Kacchan: … fucking fine

They would see each other again this year, regardless of whether Katsuki would ever be able to open 24.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 28. December - " 4 days left"

The holidays were a whirlwind of Kacchan's snarky relatives with lots of opinion, way too much food, and mulled wine in the backyard.

It was nothing like the quiet atmosphere he used to share with his mother in the days between Christmas and New Year's. They usually did puzzles, watched TV reruns, or went for walks in the snow. At no time did he feel the urgent need to leave the room to catch his breath.

But with Kacchan, from the moment he set foot in the kitchen as the new odd guy, it was a state of exception. Kacchan fit into the picture like one of a dozen noodles in a pot, but he stood out like the only spinach-flavored fusilli, if you knew what those looked like. Izuku didn't really know why, but it seemed like everyone in this house wanted to meet him. He could tell the difference between Masaru's side of the family and Mitsuki's side of the family by the sheer ferocity with which his hand was shaken. Regardless of the eyes.

At the of the first day, he felt like an over-announced surprise guest who was nothing but a disappointment in the end. (Even if everyone kept telling him how sweet he was). And the uncle, the 'useless' uncle who slept in the guest room, was not useless at all in his opinion. Sure, he didn't design designer clothes or coach the upper class on the latest superfoods or diets… he was 'just' the boss of a giant fast food chain...?!

On the second day of Christmas, when the atmosphere was a little quieter because it was mostly Masaru's relatives sitting around the campfire, Izuku thought for the first time how it would be to actually be here together. How it would make him feel. To be a fully accepted part of the family. To sit around the fire and roast marshmallows as Kacchan's partner every year. Not to burst with emotion when Kacchan brought him a second pillow from inside, seeing that he was cold despite being so close to the fire. He was ready to go all out if the slightest chance presented itself.

Today was Thursday, the second day that the house was empty because everyone was back at work. The uncle had left as well… but the futon (which didn't smell like death, by the way, but rather like antique lavender oil) was still lying next to Kacchan's bed. They could have put it away, but it made sense to sit on it in the evening and watch all the All-Might interviews Kacchan's parents had recorded over the years. And whether it seemed possible or not, there had been two so far that Izuku hadn't known.

At the moment, Izuku was sitting in the kitchen reading the newspaper when he heard Kacchan stomping down the stairs. He had a training appointment with Eijirou in a little over an hour, as exemplary as he was.

He heard the classic groan of the handrail as Kacchan skipped the last few steps and jumped straight into the hallway outside the kitchen door, pushing an empty cup next to the coffee pot. Kacchan burst through the door and shot him a smirk when he spotted him at the table. "Anything interesting?" With a hidden smile, Izuku watched as Katsuki poured himself a cup of coffee and slid into the chair opposite him. "Nope. But they've published a calendar of events for New Year's." The newspaper was snatched out of his hand and turned once. While Katsuki skimmed over the listings, Izuku lowered his face into his hand and silently watched as he burned the tip of his tongue on the fresh coffee. Another tiny memory that would burn itself into the corners of his brain forever. Just like the time they spent together in the evening. Or when Mitsuki burnt the crème brûlée at the last moment and kicked them both out with far too much money to buy a replacement dessert. It had been a turbulent few days, but he had never been as happy as he was here with Kacchan. "So, Shrine?" Kacchan asked across the table, turning back the newspaper and marking the shrine he had obviously chosen with a tiny burn mark, "You and me?" He let his eyes wander over the display and took a deep breath. The shrine he had chosen was much more traditional than the one on the outskirts of the city center. They would have to travel some distance out of the city and into the mountains. "What about the rest of your family?" "They come too. Someone has to drive, or do you think I'll take the train in this outfit? Tch." Ah, the outfit. Izuku had thought it was some kind of advertisement… but in fact, the people in front of the shrine among the snowy trees and mountains were exceptionally… colorful. "Do you even have a kimono?" "N-no," he replied, and Kacchan sank back into the chair, his lips curled into a thoughtful pout. Izuku flipped a page, back to the local shrines, and handed the paper back to Kacchan, "I've only ever been normal…" "You've never been inside, to the altar?" …To the altar. Ugh. "No." "Hm." Izuku was burning with curiosity. What kind of altar? But Kacchan closed the newspaper, dumped the rest of his black coffee into the sink and saluted him before leaving him to wonder alone in the kitchen.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 15. December - "a meal"

Kacchan: wtf Why? Deku: hahah what is it Kacchan: *image attached* I don't know what I find weirder. Eating somewhere else with you or eating something you claim to have cooked Deku: I have my rice thingy!! And I can cut potatoes and fry meat too ᕦ⊙෴⊙ᕤ Kacchan: Equating frying meat with cutting potatoes is a red flag in itself Deku: Why? Kacchan: 'Why' he asks What do you want to cook? Curry? Deku: What do you want to eat? Kacchan: Curry. Deku: Ah. Ok. Curry then i guess haha Today? Kacchan: Today is Friday Deku: Shit, it's movie night. Well, then… Tomorrow? Evening? I think some of the others are home for the weekend. Or are we going to cook for everyone? Kacchan: No You and me on Saturday. I'll buy the meat. Deku: Then I'll buy the potato. Kacchan: And the rest Carrots Celery Onions Paprika chili pepper Curry cubes And not just one potato, you total culinary catastrophe!!!!!!! Deku: hm hm Watch out, bold question: Shall we go shopping together? Not the meat, Your Highness, but the rest? Kacchan: Would probably be for best …did you actually get everything you needed yesterday? There were only Doritos in the picture. Deku: Yes! And I wanted to ask something... What did you delete? Kacchan: If it was any of your business, it would still be there Deku: ಥ_ಥ

"We could have just cooked together, you know," Izuku pointed out, standing in the doorway with his arms full of bags of chips, pretzel sticks and crackers. Kacchan stood in front of him, scanned the selection and then picked out the Doritos, not caring if anything else fell out of his arms. But that didn't happen. "I know," he replied slowly, tucking the bag under his arm and licking his gums thoughtfully, "but it felt like shit knowing you all hang out together every fucking Friday. While I'm alone in my room." Izuku's eyes widened and he fought off a serious wave of pity. "That's actually the time you go to sleep…" he started to explain, but it sounded a bit pale on his tongue, "But we should have asked more often. I'm sorry." "Not your fault." … He closed his mouth and blinked at the boy in front of him, stunned. He was right, it wasn't his fault. But Izuku had the feeling that less than a month ago, he was to blame for EVERYTHING that went wrong in Kacchan's life. "The idiots accepted it too," he finally said, curling the corners of the chip bag and the second wave of pity hit Izuku harder than the first. "I'll ask you next time, Kacchan. Even if we just go to the mall after school." "You and your nerd gang?" Izuku nodded, thinking that the prospect of eating frozen yogurt at the mall with him and Shouto and Iida Tsuyu and Ochako wasn't something Kacchan would want to be a part of at all. "Yeah. We usually go when a new place opens. Last time it was churros. Before that, frozen yogurt. But it's just me and-" "Cool." "C-cool?" "Yeah," he growled into his face, then finally took a step back, leaving enough room for Izuku to step out of the space between Kacchan's solid body and the door, "Better than meeting at the arcade every other weekend and spending a bunch of money on stuffy air and empty hands." "Oh," Izuku breathed, blinking sideways, "that sounds really… not very smart." Kacchan reached behind him to close the door before Izuku could try to do that with a sleeve or an elbow. His internal mountain of astonishment and admiration grew with each of these actions. Kacchan carried the chips Izuku had bought for him in his arms and had picked him up from his room on the way to the common room. Besides, he assumed that their little conversation had led to the idea that Izuku would ask Kacchan… if he wanted to accompany them (HIM AND HIS FRIENDS, not particularly cool or badass!!) into the city. Right? He cleared his throat and started walking, "Just to make sure…" "Do you know the Nikoman booth? At the end of the main street by the library?" "Ugh. Yeah." "Dad told me they're going to add grilled meat and spareribs to the menu in the new year." ... if Izuku's arms weren't full, he would have squealed into his hands like a toddler at Christmas. That was the sweetest 'I want to be part of it' Izuku had ever heard. As it was, he could only bite his lips and watch Kacchan with raised eyebrows and eyes full of devotion as he grumpily finished his thought: "That would be something similar, wouldn't it? It's not a new place, but the menu-"

"Absolutely!" he interrupted him and Kacchan looked up as they reached the landing side by side.

His ears were red. A corner of his chip bag was suspiciously black. "This is definitely worth a visit," he repeated, and to relieve Kacchan of some of his tension, he awkwardly raised his overloaded arms: "My elbows still hurt from the day I fell down the stairs."

Red eyes flitted over his fingers and the many bags, "not to mention my back..."

Their eyes met.

"Could you maybe help me?"

Izuku saw that Katsuki took a deep breath. In a way that showed how agitated he actually was. But the moment passed quickly and he lifted enough of Izuku's burden that he could see the stairs at his feet and slowly began to walk down to the common room.

Kacchan followed at a minimal distance, but quickly caught up with him as Izuku threw him a fond, affectionate grin.

Every day felt more and more like… progress. Hope filled him to the tip of his nose and made his heart tingle for the rest of the evening.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 14. December - "carry your bags"

Kacchan: At this point, I would like to mention that every message I send to you could basically start with a 'WTF'. *image attached* Every following message with the simple question: WHY Deku Deku: ISN'T THAT PRACTICAL?!? Kacchan: I can carry my own bags, moron Where did you get the idea that I would accept that in any way? Deku: I don't know. I just thought that when you buy Christmas presents, it's convenient to have someone help you carry them? If you want your own bag of nachos for movie night this Friday (totally understandable on my part) and I buy them for you, then I'll carry 'your' bag. More or less. Deed done. Kacchan: Of fucking course I'll bring my own shit on Friday. Your paws in my chips - borderline yuk, but ok You have decent personal hygiene nowadays But Pikachu No one knows which socket he stuck his fingers in before. Deku: I'm happy you'll be there on Friday. Spot the same? On the couch? Kacchan: Yo, that was ok. But let's switch seats. I don't want anyone else to sit next to me and become all touchy. Deku: Kaminari's always touchy with you. Kacchan: I hate it. I'll sit on the outside. Then you. Then him. He can't get the chips that way either. Deku: Whatever you say ʅ(°ヮ°)ʃ So you want nachos? Or Doritos? We're on our way to the city anyway. Kacchan: Get both. Spicy Please Deku: Okeydokey ♡

It was the word 'please'. Just one 'please' from Kacchan and he went weak like chocolate in the sun. And then, um, … he had let himself be tempted. (And there were only 10 days until Christmas, so he really had to be active while he still had enough courage!!!) And then he had done it. He had dared. He had SENT A HEART. A HEART. Then he'd stuffed the cell phone into his pocket like it was made of molten steel and turned his attention to the distracting and exhausting task of shopping. Shouto casually told him that he would be leaving the dormitory on December 20th, and Ochacko, who had been busy choosing snacks a minute earlier, confirmed the same date. He realized that he should discuss the matter with his mother soon. But that was a problem for Future-Izuku. It wasn't until almost an hour later, when he finally wanted to take a picture of the 'bag' of Doritos on his purchase while standing in line at the checkout with a queasy feeling, that he read the last message in their chat. Or what was left of it.

Kacchan: Deleted message

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 12. December " ??? "

The chair opposite him was pulled from the table by its backrest, turned and suddenly Izuku found himself in the crosshairs of a very intense, gut-melting stare.

"Deku."

Izuku stares back at Katsuki in amazement over his tea, and then checks if his friends if they could see the same thing when Shouto says, "I see him too," , casting a suspicious glance over the table. Katsuki, ignoring everything and everyone at the breakfast table, gets straight to the point. 

"I got something useless. Again."

Oh. 

"I'm ...sorry," Izuku replied and lowered his cup. 

Kacchan just pursed his lips and grabbed the small pile of cucumber slices on Izuku's plate, shoving them into his mouth one by one as if they were coins and he was a fairground ride. Izuku was silent, blood coursing under his skin, no doubt already red around the ears, wondering if Katsuki would at least tell him today WHAT he had drawn but didn't need.

When the tension became palpable and Izuku saw Todoroki subtly covering his own plate with his cup of green tea out of the corner of his eye, Kacchan finally continued. But it wasn't information about what had been on his note today.

"I'm going home either on the 22nd or 23rd." 

To Izuku's shock, he put the two unknown notes on the table between them. Right in the middle, for everyone to see. Although upside down, so that he couldn't read the text. 

"I could draw two lots for the two or three days we won't see each other before Christmas. One for yesterday and a second one for today."

Ugh, no. Izuku would get an aneurysm if he had to do two of the more extensive things in one day. So, no.

"You can save them for after Christmas," he explained quickly, "I figured we wouldn't see each other that day. That's why you can't open the last piece until all the others are used up anyway. That a … a rule."

"I see."

Red eyes turned into skeptical slits and Izuku shrugged innocently. 

"I'm sorry," Ochako spoke up next to him, "but what are you talking about?" Curiously, she reached for the two pieces of paper in front of Kacchan, but he covered them with his hand in a flash and pretended to bite her fingers.

"Deku made me a calendar," he then embarrassed him without even a hint of hesitation.

"A calendar?"

"Yup. A new damn useless surprise every day."

"How ... thoughtful."

Was he overinterpreting? Or did Ochako sound sweeter than belladonna honey? She and Kacchan exchanged a long look, like two dusty but never quite satisfied rivals. Katsuki's grin grew wide and smug as he cupped his chin in one hand and asked with feigned interest, "What did you get, moonface?"

...oh shit. His head turned to Ochako, who sat frozen next to him. On the other side, he felt like half of his body was being transferred to the permafrost. Time to remind his two best friends that Katsuki Bakugou was not only an annoying bastard who constantly drove him and all his friends to the brink of insanity, but also the only one who had ever enchanted Izuku more violently than All-Might. A weak comparison, but the point should be clear: Kacchan was sugoi and his friends shouldn't tease him. He straightened his shoulders and jumped between the fronts. 

"You're the only one with such a calendar, Kacchan," he said.

Ochako clicked her tongue. Izuku's leg thawed. 

Was he a bad friend if he was happy about Kacchan's mean but very proud grin?

"What did you get Bakugou?" Uraraka asked, tilting her head to the two pieces of paper on the table.

"He can tell you that himself, can't he? Nerd?"

"Yep."

"So no change, then," Kacchan chuckled, and Todoroki's cup was pushed aside, his half of the cucumber sprinkled with chili flakes changing hands in a matter of seconds, "Maybe you had more useful idea for the next batch. See you around, loser."

With a tap on the table, he got up and left the common room, munching on the cucumber in plain sight.

"You made him a calendar?" Ochako asked, eyes still on the departing blonde, "A self-made calendar with handwritten notes?"

Shouto pushed back his cup with a long sigh, "What's in it that he can't ... use?"

"I don't know," Izuku replied, thinking back to yesterday's conversation, "I put a lot of things in there... like a joke or a handshake... but I didn't assume at the time that he would accept it and really stick with it. That surprised me myself."

"He seems to take it seriously enough, to let you know when he's no longer here, but already at home."

That's true. Maybe it was because of yesterday, his puny appearance in front of Kacchan's room door, pathetic as a wet rabbit. Maybe that was it. But maybe not. 

"Yeah. That's... unexpected too," he murmured, sinking back into the hard cafeteria chair, "I was expecting him to forget to draw a note for a few days anyway, hence the rule about the 24-"

Brown eyes burned like lasers at his temple. "What's in the 24?"

"Secret- until Kacchan opens all the other numbers."

"That's clear, but you can tell us, can't you?"

"No," he laughed meekly. No one but him would ever know what he had dared to do if his plan went wrong. But that was okay. Tough. But okay. 

"If Kacchan doesn't open it, no one will ever know what was inside."

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 04. December - "finger massage"

Kacchan: what the fuck Deku: What is it? Kacchan: What is this supposed to be?? *image attached* Deku: A massage. Of your fingers. By me. Kacchan: YOU want to MASSAGE my FINGERS. are you nuts that's creepy af don't you think Deku: uhm no Otherwise I wouldn't have offered Kacchan: How tf is this supposed to go? Deku: I'll come to your room bring some massage oil i'll probably ask you if you want to sit or lie down maybe also if you want to close your eyes Could bring some music. My mediation playlist is quite nice We wouldn't have to speak I come, we do it, I leave simple. Kacchan: you're serious Deku: Of course I am! Kacchan: ... WHY would you even do that? Deku: I saw you massaging your palms yesterday after our practice fight. With your thumb. I had a hand massage once. And it was amazing But I get it, seems out of the blue. Anyway, I'd be glad to show you how it feels like. If you want. Kacchan: You are no doubt the purest form of a comically unpleasant creature Deku: You don't have to, Kacchan. Nobody is forcing you. Kacchan: Nobody could make me do shit, asshole. Be with me in 30m Deku: 30? What else are you doing? Kacchan: Taking a fucking shower, creep Deku: סּ_סּ its itsjustyourhands Kacchan: what Deku: You don't have to shower your whole body for that!!!! Kacchan: I TAKE A SHOWER CAUSE I WENT TO THE GYM U FUCKTARD Deku: oh ok. never mind then.   Kacchan: ✖

NEVER MIND THE FACT THAT KACCHAN WOULD BE THERE - FRESHLY SHOWERED - SMELLING LIKE HEAVEN AND SWEET DEATH SHOULD IZUKU MAKE THE SMALLEST MISTAKE. NEVER MIND. NEVER MIND.

Izuku had never been so out of his MIND and at the same time he had never had so much on his MIND. He would touch him. They would sit opposite each other. Kacchan would watch him. He would hear him breathe. They would be silent. Izuku started to regret the offer. Everything would be better if he could just talk. But he had offered to be silent.

…

However, there would be less chance of him talking nonsense if he kept quiet.

But the tension. Izuku was still two floors down and yet the tension was almost killing him. What would it be like if they sat less than half a meter apart? Both on … the bed? Or Kacchan on the bed and him, because he wasn't allowed to touch the bed, in front of it? On the floor between Kacchan's thighs?

"Daaaamn," he cursed, slapped his hands painfully on his cheeks and jumped up from the bed. "I'm screwed. I-" he looked at his cell phone. Should he ...give up? Should he just pull his neck out of the noose, abort the mission, go to sleep, and pretend he would not bite himself in the ass for the next 100 years if he let the chance to touch Kacchan's hands pass without the risk of being burned to ashes...? There were barely 20 minutes left. His eyes darted to his bathroom. He could take a shower as well. Smell good, … make an impression. Not as the shitty nerd. But as Izuku, who could keep quiet, smelled clean and did good deeds. Maybe… if he could convince Kacchan just a tiny bit that he could make him feel good… maybe he could do more, like… but he couldn't finish the thought, his skin felt like it was melting off his face, good lord. And well, he was sweating. 18 minutes. He would even manage to blow dry his hair in that time.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 17. December - "something sweet"

Kacchan: *image attached* Should I choose something or do you already have baked Christmas cookies in one of your thousand drawers? Deku: Who says it's something to eat? Kacchan: What else should it be? Deku: I wanna be experimental. Give me another hour and you'll get it. Kacchan: fine

After yesterday, after the moment of holding hands, nothing in his inner life was where it belonged. He had no concentration at all, his stomach did what it wanted and his heart was a complete basket case. He was a nervous clusterfuck, shy, over-excited and completely on cloud nine.

And yes, he had actually thought about baking Kacchan cookies at the very beginning of all this. They were ready and wrapped. But yesterday, his synapses had melted. He could feel it; the change. Never in a million years would Kacchan have reached out to him this time last year. Or the year before. Or the year before that. Or ever, if you know what he means.

Yesterday was different. The thought of yesterday still tingled warmly in all his limbs, the corners of his mouth were already aching from smiling. He was exhilarated, full of hope.

That was why he had finally opened and eaten the cookies himself. On the one hand, to HAVE to go through with his new plan, and as nutrition for his nerves, while he created something he had never done before: a poem. For and about Kacchan. About his hair, his eyes, his soul, his heart, his body, his charm…

…

When the hour was almost up and the floor of his room was filled with shredded and crumpled paper from his notebook, he looked ruefully at the empty cookie bag. What had he been thinking?

A poem?

Him?

Unfortunately, he had two left hands when it came to art. Because everything he had written was too trashy, screamed of longing and desire and admiration and would never leave his room. Should the day come when Izuku and Katsuki broke the boundaries of their friendship, he rubbed his overheated cheeks nervously at the idea, he could still give it to him. Seeing how Kacchan blushed and how he might accidentally set the poem on fire, but of course, Izuku would still have a copy with him because he knew how his boyfriend would react.

"Oh my God," he groaned as all the things he'd imagined for the past hour played in his head like a film.

Sighing, he lifted the last draft off the table and put it in his desk drawer. Not today. Hopefully one day, but not today.

Some change jingled in the pocket of his sweatpants as he slid his legs off the seat, and an idea came to him…

Somewhere in his closet he still had some wrapping paper, already tied in a little red bow. He found what he was looking for in a very dusty box next to his old shoes, picked out one of the bows, untied the tape and quietly made his way down to the first floor, to the snack machine.

Kacchan didn't really like sweets. But he had seen him a few times at this vending machine full of protein bars. The money from his pocket was enough for the biggest one, a mixture of nuts and dried fruit, and as he bent down to take it out of the slot, minimal doubts began to gnaw at him. He attached the ribbon and turned the snack over in the light of the corridor lamp. It was a lousy present. But it was better than nothing. He climbed the stairs as if in a trance, knocking louder than he intended, and Kacchan opened the door while his hand was still raised. In the other, he held the bar decorated with a Christmas ribbon and Katsuki looked at it. Then at his fingers, then at his face. And then he laughed. "This is experimental?" he tugged at the bow and then accepted the present from Izuku with a laugh. Izuku just shrugged while Katsuki threw the protein bar into his packed backpack for the last day of school in the morning. "I really thought it would be cookies," he said, leaning his shoulder against the doorframe, "or chocolate." Izuku replied intuitively, regardless of his current state or the fact that he was standing right in front of Kacchan, "Chocolate isn't until Valentine's Day.“ He heard Kacchan take a quick breath and bit his lips inwardly in panic. OH GOD. He'd spent far too long in the fantasy world where Kacchan loved poetry and accepted his advances!!! Writing corny poetry was one thing. A blatant, unfiltered comment about Valentine's Day in this context was so bold that Izuku almost felt dizzy when he realized what he had said. But the last few days, especially yesterday, had strengthened him, made him braver, and so he dared to look up anyway and immediately plunged into the waiting dark red. Kacchan tilted his head as if he was still thinking about what would follow, then he said as casually as Izuku ever could: "I like mine bittersweet.“ The newly acquired fact immediately filled a huge gap in his knowledge of Kacchan. The whole topic of conversation was completely new territory. His brain yearned for more. So he spoke. "I've never seen you accept chocolate before," he whispered without lowering his eyes. "I've never told anyone what I would accept." The knowledge gap continued to close - but then his thirst for knowledge got caught up in his self-doubt, and he hunched his shoulders in surprise. "And why are you telling me this?" The answer was raw in Kacchan's eyes and his heart suddenly beat much too slowly. This wasn't real, was it? Surely he had fallen asleep over his desk from the thousands of failed attempts to write a poem. "Do whatever you want with it.“ And then the door was pushed into the lock and Izuku stood in the hallway, his hands and cheeks full of black ink and his head emptier than it had been for a long time. It was obvious what all this meant, theoretically, the connection between Kacchan, chocolate and Valentine's Day and the fact that he had closed the door slowly instead of slamming it and … and somehow Izuku also knew that he was still standing there. On the other side of the closed door. Maybe his hand was still on the handle or his forehead on the cold wood. "I'll keep it in mind, Kacchan."

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 18. December - "compliment"

Kacchan: *image attached* If I had saved a dollar for everything you said, I'd be rich Deku: If you had written them down, you'd realize that none of them are exactly alike Kachan: here we go again: why + wtf Deku: saying the same compliment twice is so lame Bottom category lame Cliché lame Kacchan: go ahead then Do you want to do it in writing? Here? Or do you want to come over? I confiscated the Gamecube from Shitty Hair after he felt like yelling at eleven last night. Deku: ehm, in person then I'll be up in 20. I bring a pot of tea? Kacchan: Good one? Deku: Momo let me use her black tea if I follow the instructions I would make her a cup and then come and join you? Kacchan: yo

GHA Not only had Kacchan completely flattened the whole compliment thing. He had also casually invited him to his place to play, as if that wouldn't be the ultimate sensation, because: guess what, they had never done that before?!!!??  He stepped into the hallway and made his way to the kitchen to get the tea. He didn't drink black tea at all, but he'd been chatting with Momo this afternoon about her latest acquisition, so this was the first thing he'd thought of as an excuse to stall. A compliment. A single one. What was he supposed to say? Something about his looks? His eyes? He cringed and went into the kitchen. Momo's cupboard was one of the larger ones, fortunately, that he could reach without a chair. While he searched through the huge selection of black teas for something that looked like it might taste good, he kept thinking. Izuku could say something about the food. Which, to be honest, was only that delicious because Kacchan had made it all by himself. And because there really was a difference in skill between cutting potatoes and frying meat. Maybe he could praise Kacchan's patience in the kitchen. He had never seen him concentrate so calmly on a task for so long. At least not one that he could solve while pacing back and forth on the same square meter for two hours. He had already said that he liked the way he explained math to him. He put the kettle on. Maybe his athleticism? His stubbornness? But as soon as he started thinking along these lines, he could think of so many qualities he admired that he lost himself in thought for a moment. The water started to boil, then the kettle squeaked. Izuku looked at the instructions, truly concentrated, always keeping in mind that he was pouring hot water over a fortune here, and filled a small pot and even a large cup for Momo. With two small cups in his sweater pocket, the teapot in his left hand and the full cup in his right, he climbed the stairs and tapped the door three times with his shoe. He didn't have to wait long before the door opened and two big brown eyes looked at him in surprise. Behind Momo, at her pompous desk, he also discovered Shouto. They were probably working on a project for the student council for the new year and both looked rather … stressed. "I miscalculated my time," Momo sighed and opened the door for him with a welcoming gesture, "I only have two days left to prepare for the-" "Four," Shouto corrected, "You're still here until Friday. You still have plenty of time." "But you're leaving on Thursday, right?" Izuku's mouth twisted when he remembered that he still hadn't talked to his mother about her plans. Otherwise… For years, they had sat next to each other on Christmas Eve and watched the same movie reruns on TV. There wasn't much to plan and organize. But he should call his mother about it soon. Meanwhile, Shouto and Momo had slipped back into a heated, polite conversation, and he had to clear his throat to get their attention. "Yaoyorozu," he smiled at her, "maybe you'd feel better if you had your favorite tea?" She instantly fell silent, a hand to her mouth, hearts in her soft eyes. "Oh no, Midoriya," she breathed, and he grinned softly back, "your foresight is impressive as always!" Then she approached him and… carefully took the teapot out of his hand. Izuku opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it again. At least the tea would be appreciated here. He reached into the deep pocket of his hoodie and pulled out the two small teacups. They had originally been meant for him and Kacchan. She took them from him, visibly relieved. Shouto watched him from the table as he inconspicuously fluffed his hair in Momo's dressing table mirror and then made his way back into the hallway. "And what are you up to, Midoriya?" Izuku stopped in the doorway and turned around, "Kacchan invited me to a game." A grin appeared on his face and a red eyebrow raised. "Ah. Good luck then." "See you tomorrow!!!"

With the huge cup left over (which was actually for Momo), he finally made his way to the fourth floor and raised his hand to knock - just as it opened.

"Be on time next time, asswipe."

"S-sorry."

The room was completely dark except for the flickering television, but in front of the bed, Izuku spotted a small pile of pillows and two controllers. The tea was taken from his hand (was that a thing? Did he look like someone who shouldn't carry tea?), then he stumbled into Kacchan's room through an unexpected tug on his sweater.

It smelled like soap and washed laundry and Izuku closed his eyes for a moment in pleasure.

"You always smell so good."

The grip on his sweater loosened and with a self-satisfied snort, Kacchan fell into the pillows on the floor, tea and all.

"Now that that's out of the way, get your ass over here. I've been listening to that crappy startup tune for 20 minutes, I - "

Izuku had pulled his sweater over his head.

Cool air had blown over his ribs, then his shirt had slipped back to where it belonged.

"Sorry, what?" he asked and threw the garment carelessly over the chair. He got awfully warm when he was around Kacchan anyway. He might as well avoid it.

Katsuki blinked at him, "What?"

"I didn't let you finish."

They looked at each other and the room filled with flute music as the intro started again. Kacchan clicked his tongue disapprovingly and shook his head, as if shaking off a thought.

"… get over here, Deku. I invited you over to beat your ass, not to sweet-talk with you."

Apart from the fact that Izuku's insides were twisting around each other and his ears were ringing like little bells at that statement, he managed to stop himself in the last second from making a serious compliment about the potentially good dirty talk Kacchan could deliver. Who knew what such a statement would have cost him. His head, probably.

He mentally patted himself on the back, proud of his rare survival instinct, then sank into the pillow next to Kacchan, a controller already pressed in his face.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 03. December - "useless fact"

Kacchan: *image attached* impress me Deku: Interested in a particular area? or topic? thing? Kacchan: Bold to assume I would be interested in something useless at all Deku: but! ╰(°ㅂ°)╯ sometimes things you thought were useless turn out to be quite useful Kacchan: uh huh Deku: You remember that rice-cooker thingy? The one that goes in the microwave? Kacchan: no Deku: Everyone and their mama laughed at me. But fact is! I'm the only one in the dorm who can cook perfect rice in 13min Without actually cooking! Kacchan: ... was that the useless fact? Deku: carrots were once purple Kacchan: ..eew Deku: Imagine a soup with purple carrots (° -°） ︵ ┻━┻ Kacchan: no thanks Deku: AWARD UNLOCKED: YOU USED ⋆*✩>>T H A N K S<<✩*⋆ FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! Kacchan: fuck you deku Deku: AWARD UNLOCKED: YOU USED ⋆*✩>>F U C K<<✩*⋆ FOR THE 10000th TIME!!! ok sorry. want another one? Kacchan: no

Deku: Dr. Seuss invented the word nerd in 1950. It meant comically unpleasant creature Kachan: actually laughed at that Deku: (´◡`) Kacchan: yea, good one enough for today G'night comic ugly thing Deku: lol Night, Kacchan ♥

For a split second, Izuku saw three dots, Kacchan was still writing something - but then that was it and the chat went silent.

Nevertheless, Izuku lay on the bed, heart pounding, cell phone still in his hand and the chat open. That was what he wanted. Contact, he thought with a small smile. In the last three days, he had chatted more with Kacchan than in the whole last month. It felt new and good. But most of all, right.

He had made him laugh. He rubbed his face deep into his pillow at the thought. Even in front of the posters, he was a little embarrassed by his bashful grin. He'd given anything to hear that. Was Kacchan already in bed? It was late, after eight, which was a pretty good indication.

It meant that he was in bed chatting with Izuku.

The thought of Kacchan chuckling in the dim light of his bedside lamp prevented his ribs from taking another breath, as if huge hands were wrapped around his chest and squeezing him. It felt like longing. Melancholy and a little bit of greed. To finally see Kacchan laugh again because of something he had said or done… a real laugh, … and not the spiteful cackle. A real, honest laugh. He wanted that. And more. All of it.

Izuku blinked down at his cell phone. He re-read the chat with forced calm, the evidence that they had kept in touch for three days without interruption. That was more than a beginning.

Piece by piece, but with composure.

There was no guarantee that he would be able to make him laugh in the next few days - who knew what Kacchan would draw tomorrow? What if it was the hug?

"Please, please let it be something harmless," his muttering died away in his pillow, "I need a little more time, just a few more days."

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 02. December - "fight"

Kacchan: meet me in 10 by the lockers Deku: The lockers? Kacchan: *image attached* Deku: Ufffff Kacchan: save that breath don't make me wait bring water Deku: demanding~ ಠ_ಠ Kacchan: stfu and hurry up

Kacchan hasn't written to him yet... was yesterday such a disaster that everything was ruined?

Maybe it's the weekend. Maybe even the weather? It was snowing and freezing cold and Izuku just knew that the day was crappy for Kacchan. In the past, subzero temperatures were enough to set one of the training mats on fire out of frustration and the stress of controlling his quirk in such adverse conditions...

Maybe it's just the calendar and the fact that yesterday's joke was more misplaced than funny. If he didn't open another note… and then, his cell phone beeps. And there it was again - PING - the relief.

It was Kacchan. And apparently he was in a big hurry to blow off the steam that had built up during the day. It was almost impossible to get dressed and be at the lockers in 10 minutes, but after two short replies he threw his cell phone into his bag in a high arc, tore off his shirt to replace it with a worn old one from GangOrka, stumbled out of his shorts into his gym shorts, and stuffed his sneakers into his bag. He didn't have any water with him. But that was okay. He was already three minutes late. And he'd rather be without water than five minutes late.

[mudhamster]

CHWHWN: 01. December - "a tissue"

Kacchan: seriously *image attached* Deku: positive! *image attached* to be honest that one was planned as a joke! for later, you know after you got some ...other things Kacchan: like Deku: no spoilers kacchan so? want me to bring it uuup? ... Kacchan? Kacchan: keep it Deku: 。・°°・(＞_＜)・°°・。

He felt nervous from the very first second he opened his eyes today. How would it go? When would he read the first - what would be on the first piece of paper? They had a free period later. Maybe then? Should he knock on his door again? Would that remind Kacchan or just put him off?

God, the worries piled up in his stomach until they reached the top of his skull. Breakfast was probably out of the question today. Lunch and dinner were also in jeopardy if he couldn't figure out HOW Kacchan was going to deal with the calendar. ...there was nothing in the garbage this morning. He'd checked it. Just in case.

Still, he was relieved.

Yesterday, he hadn't realized how exciting and nerve-wracking waiting could be. How helpless he would feel. How soberingly hopeful.

And then PING - the relief. The solution! Sure, via chat. Simple. Efficient. He nodded in approval, while his heart dropped between his knees on the chair and then on the floor.

He saw Kacchan's picture - O M G, he saw the other paper slips in the background - he really opened it - he accepted it, didn't he?!? - O K - a reaction! Interaction! Does this count as "We're doing this?"

God, what an onslaught of excitement. It felt just like when All-Might had once patted his hair. Bursting with energy, Izuku scanned his desk and spotted a pack of tissues at the edge, next to the books, tore one out, scribbled a face on it and quickly snapped a photo. He did not want to appear unprepared!

But the photo was ignored, as was his humor, and when he didn't answer Kacchan's monosyllabic question, he could have guessed what answer he would get. A rejection.

Izuku slowly lowered his cell phone and reached for the tissue, resting his face on one arm with a sigh.

This was starting much worse than Izuku had expected. Of all the things Kacchan could have drawn, he drew something completely out of context.

Too bad.