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Maugmang Pag abot digdi sa Paliparan ning Bikol .  

That was the sign that the plane had already arrived in Bicol — a destination Katsuki never thought of visiting. This trip was planned in secret, and it was good that her best friends, Mina and Eijirou, agreed and came here with her.

Coming here was nerve-wracking. There was no way she wasn’t feeling anxious about this trip. First, her parents knew nothing about this, her friends' parents included. All they knew was that they were traveling because the three of them had won a month-long trip package from a lottery game. Good thing they bought that shitty reason, Katsuki thought.

Second, she came here on a mission to win someone back. She had hurt that someone so much, the same one who she dearly loved. But she had lost the chance to say it properly. Thus this so-called mission was something she wasn’t sure of if it was worth lying to their parents for. She sighed deeply.

She felt something warm on top of her hand. She looked to her right and saw Mina’s hand on top of hers. Katsuki didn’t even realize that she was gripping the armrest tightly. “Hey, you okay, Kats?” The pink head asked worriedly. Next to her was her boyfriend, Eijirou. He gave her the thumbs up despite the same worried look on his face. 

“Yeah, I’m good.” She replied, trying not to sound jittery. But Mina’s hand gripped hers as she pushed her sunglasses up her hair, revealing her concerned look. Mina didn’t buy her lie. “Okay.” Katsuki exhaled deeply. “I-I’m afraid.”

“Of what?” Her friend asked. That made her part her lips, not knowing what to answer. She then bit her bottom lip. She was even afraid to admit what she was frightened of to her friends, even to herself. “Look, babe, it’s going to be okay. At least you tried.” 

“And it’s him ,” Eijirou chimed in. “That man loves you so much, Kats. Bet Izuku, my brodicakes , still does! Itaga mo sa bato ! ” Mentioning that word made Mina turn her head to him, scoffing, making a disappointed face, and whispering something that made the redhead pout. “Babe—” He whined, and Mina replied with a low ‘zip it.’ 

“Ei’s right, Kats. Izuku loves you so much. And you do, too, right?” Katsuki nodded at her question. She grinned, “Then, everything will be okay!” Mina tapped Katsuki’s shivering hand, then gripped it tightly. “Besides, you have one month. I think that’s a lot of time for you to try. You know what we’re here for, right?”

Mina and Eijirou had been her shoulder to cry on ever since. Katsuki always thought they were annoying together–well, they are, but she doesn’t regret befriending these two idiots since high school. Now that she was going through some matters of the heart that she herself caused, they knew she couldn’t handle the situation alone. They agreed with her crazy idea and supported her to win Izuku back. She didn’t regret asking them to come with her. 

She nodded, trying not to let a tear fall from her eyes. Katsuki balled her other fist and pumped in front of her. “Yeah. We’re here for Izuku!”

“And for Bicol Express !” Eijirou cheered with his hands up in the air. It made both girls giggle.

“Chili ice cream!” Mina added on his cheering. “ Mayon Volcano !” Both of them mentioned excitedly.

Thanks guys , she thought as they continued to add more of what they wanted to eat, do and see here in the province of Bicol. 

***

“Are you sure this is where Deku lives?” Katsuki asked Eijirou to re-confirm Izuku’s address in the GPS. Katsuki pouted. How could this two-story ancestral house in front of them be Izuku’s house? Fine! She was biased and discriminating because what she learned was promdi s do not have that luxury. Maybe, what she learned about them was not all true.

“Yep! Confirmed!” Eijirou replied as he peeked through the house’s brand new gates. He called, “ Tao po ! ” Since there was no doorbell to press, all he could do was call out for someone loudly. “Ah!” It seemed there was someone in front of him as he waved. “ Bata ! Hello. Is this where Izuku Mi– Hey!” He yelled. 

They only heard footsteps running further away from them. “Kuya Izuuuuu!” The child screeched. “Somebody’s looking for you!”

“See? Confirmed!” The redhead proudly stated to the girls. Mina only shrugged, and Katsuki pouted. He explained that a little barefooted girl with long white hair saw him. She never said hello but just stared at him and then ran away. “I wonder what’s her relationship with Izuku.”

“Maybe his little sister?” Mina hummed.

“Adopted,” Katsuki uttered. “I remembered he mentioned he has two or three adopted siblings. But he didn’t men—”

“Ei? As in Eijirou Kirishima?” Izuku’s gentle voice was mixed with doubt and surprise at seeing his friend.

“Izuku! My friend! My Brodi !” Eijirou greeted, a broad smile plastered on his face, and waved at Izuku excitedly. “Long time, no see, brad !”

Izuku let out a chuckle from the other side of the gate as he walked up to it. “Yeah. Are you alone? And what’s Brodi ?”

Katsuki unknowingly took a step back. Her heart thrummed against her ribcage. They flew and arrived here uninvited. What if Izuku was still hurt that he could not even imagine seeing her? Damn. What if her presence is unwanted? Damn it! Flashes of memories dawned on her. It was the first time after three months that she heard his laughter. If he saw her right now, that giggle might turn into a sad, brokenhearted look. And she couldn’t–no, she didn’t want to see that again. 

“Nah-,” Eijirou replied. “I’m with Mina and—” As the gates creaked open, Katsuki slowly felt her heart lumping in her throat. Katsuki sensed the fear of hurting Izuku again. She couldn’t do that or even imagine that–no, not anymore. She knew it! This trip was a fucking mistake. But Mina held her hand. When Katsuki looked at her, she gave her a nod. Like a silent message that she couldn’t pass this chance.

“Kacchan?” She felt something swarm in her belly. Hearing that cutesy nickname from Izuku was nostalgic. But after months of radio silence, it felt different. Maybe she missed hearing it. 

She slowly set her eyes on him. He wore a dirty-white shirt, a straw hat, and black fabric pants with their edges tucked into his black boots. “Hi.” He removed his hat and smiled at her. His emerald doe eyes were still shiny as ever–the most gorgeous eyes if she were to admit it, and his freckles were still prominent even under the dirt on his cheek. She pushed aside the urge to hug him, dive into his chest, and inhale his soothing scent.

“And Brodi means–” Eijrou’s voice was fading little by little, together with the subtle squealing of Mina behind her. 

Just like in those shoujo mangas she read, it was as if their surroundings were gradually disappearing like magic. It was only Katsuki and Izuku. It was so intense that she could only respond and stutter with a ‘Hi.’ Her heart was beating so fast. The whisper of the wind and the branches of the trees rustle as their leaves fall and fly around them. 

Too preoccupied with their staring and smiling moment, they didn’t hear the footsteps walking up to them. “Izuku,’nak, may bisita ka daa?” A lady who seemed to be in her late forties, with the same emerald eyes as Izuku, and shoulder-length hair that has lighter green shade, appeared behind the gate.

It was Izuku’s mom.

***

"I'm sorry, children." Inko, Izuku's mom, stated as she placed the newly cooked rice on the table. "Izuku didn't mention that he has friends coming over. So lunch was quite late." She apologized. And here they were, on the dining table, together with Izuku and his mom, the white-haired girl Eijiro saw earlier who's staring at the three of them. Two boys, one with brown hair with freckles who's being shy suddenly, and one with black hair and red eyes who's being a snob. Katsuki knew stories about these kids and Izuku's mom that made her want to meet them, but it's definitely awkward seeing and getting to know them personally. However, she remembered that there should be four kids. Where is the other one? 

"No, ma'am! It's okay! We came here unannounced. And wow! The meal looks so scrumptious!" Eijirou brightly smiled and that somehow erased the tension she and Mina were feeling. "Bicol Express is one of our main, no–secondary targets here!" 

Izuku tilted his head in confusion at what Eijirou meant. Katsuki elbowed her friend. "Oh, sorry! I mean, we're really looking forward to eating Bicol Express."

Inko chuckled heartily. "You're a lovely bunch, aren't you? Then, I'll cook more Bicolano foods for you to try." Eijirou and Mina's eyes beamed excitedly.

"You're all so noisy–" All heads turned to where the voice came from. It was a little girl with brown hair in pigtails standing by the dining area door. She looked like the brown-haired boy who's already running up to her.

" Ate Mahoro! Look! Kuya Izu got some big but friendly visitors who came in a while ago!" Katsuma, as she heard from the Midoriyas, happily chirped. Big was how these kids described adults. How cute, Katsuki thought.

"Ha? Who–" She set her eyes at the dining table. Her sleepy eyes turned into contempt as she saw Katsuki. "Why?" She asked in disbelief, her teeth gritting. "Why is she here?!"

" Ate Mahoro–"

"Isn't she the reason Kuya Izuku came back? Why is she here?" She raised her voice that made everyone stunned. Katsuki could only gasp. She couldn't retaliate because that was true. 

"Mahoro!" Izuku stood up, even slapping the table. "Don't be rude to–"

"No! I don't want them here! I don't like her!" She screamed. Katsuki's eyes pooled with tears. 

"I–" Katsuki stuttered. Swallowing as she tightly fisted on her pants. ' I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.' Was what she wanted to say. Her eyes flickered to where Izuku was, then brought them down to her hands then to the people seated at the table.

"Mahoro! That's rude! They are my friends!" Izuku walked to the little kid. He cradled her arms trying to convince her it was okay for the three of them to be here. That they were welcome to this place. "Can you be a good little girl for me, hmm, Mahoro, please?"

Mahoro shook her head with pursed lips and tears streamed down her eyes. Izuku wiped them with the pad of his thumbs, hushing her as he did. "No–Not when I know she hurt you and she will still hurt you."

Before Izuku could reply, Katsuki stood up. "I won't!" Izuku whipped his head to her. Their eyes set on her. "The reason we're here is–" She swallowed thickly as she looked straight to Izuku. "I'm here to court Izuku." 

Blush bloomed across Izuku's cheeks at the declaration. "Kacchan–you don't have to–" Not giving any chance for Izuku to finish his sentence. She smirked. Katsuki felt like her overflowing confidence returned. She's determined to get him back and to earn his forgiveness. Once she had set her goal, nothing would stop her. 

"Get ready, Deku! I'll court you the old-fashioned way!" That should be easy-peasy, right?

—

And she may have bitten more than she could chew.

It had been two weeks since Katsuki's proclamation and since then; she had been up early every morning to fetch water and fill three huge drums with it. To make it worse, four sets of eyes consistently spied Katsuki's every move on. She needed to prove that she could do this grueling task. She never expected that courting could be this difficult and exhausting!

“You okay, Katsuki?” Mina asked quietly, trying not to stir and wake Eijirou up. Katsuki stretched her arms as she slumped on her bed, face down.

“Yeah.” She groaned. 

“You always tell me I’m an idiot but I know you are not.” 

“My body hurts like hell.” Katsuki turned to her pink-haired friend. Half of her face still pressed down on the pillow. “But I couldn’t give up, right?” Mina nodded at her. “I don’t even know if Izuku knows what I am doing. I hope those little spies of his–you know, those kids living here, mention this to him. A little thank you would be nice.” 

Mina flashed a smile that reached from ear to ear. “Thank you.”

“Not from you, idiot.” She cursed then she whipped her head back to the soft pillow. “But you’re welcome.” She murmured under her breath and Mina giggled.

“Good luck, Kat.” Mina cheered. “Like an old saying, pag may tiyaga, may nilaga –uh no, since we are in Bicol — may Bicol Express!”

“Shut up.” Katsuki groaned and chuckled, remembering how this mess all started. She had researched ‘old and classic panliligaw’ right after her hasty declaration. Her face paled at what she had to do. Maybe she should rethink this or something or– no, she won’t give up. Not when she saw how hurt the kids were, especially that Mahoro kid.

She dozed off for a quick nap. After this, she’d cook breakfast then go with Izuku and the kids on the farm or harvest fruits. 

She found it quite endearing to see those kids cling to Izuku so much and to see him have fun with them, with her and with their friends. Those kids also climbed on the back of Yagi, their family’s carabao, when Izuku did his farming activities. They owned a tractor but, as per his mom, Izuku sometimes did the work manually with Yagi.

Izuku looked so cool climbing up the coconut and guava trees. She watched him with astonishment and her mouth gaped at those muscles flexing every time he reached, pulled and stepped up. 

Every day, she learns something new about him. She learnt that Izuku was the most dependable person in their Barrio . He’s a loving son and brother, and he always tried to extend help if he could. 

She wondered what she could learn about him later.

—

Katsuki slowly opened her eyes. That was a good nap. She sat up and stretched under a soft blanket that she distinctly remembered not having right before she took the nap. Did she sleep with this on? She looked to the other bed where Mina and Eijirou slept, and found it empty. Wow, those two woke up before she did. Good for them. 

Katsuki reached out for her phone on the bedside table. 

“HOLY SHIT!” It was almost 12 noon! That supposedly 2 hours of nap became 5 hours of sleep! Damn it! Katsuki jumped off the bed and ran towards the kitchen. She was supposed to help Izuku’s mom cook lunch. Shit, shit, shit. She got into the kitchen with her chest heaving, catching her breath, blurting out apologies.

“Oh, honey. It’s okay.” Inko smiled at her while she tasted her Kaldereta. It smelled and looked so good that her stomach started growling. She couldn’t wait to taste that! “Katsuki, dear, can you tell Izuku lunch is almost ready? He’s washing Yagi at the back.”  

Katsuki nodded and headed out of the kitchen. She walked out towards the door, which led the way to a shed where Yagi was sheltered. 

But there was no sign of Izuku around. Yagi was there, however, peacefully chewing on some grass and not minding Katsuki's presence. Hmm. 

Did Katsuki miss Izuku on the way here? 

Well, yeah. She missed him. Like for real. She shrugged off the thought, "Not that kind of miss , stupid." She cursed under her breath. Yagi grunted. "Yeah, sorry boy," she patted the carabao. The animal returned another grunt that made her chuckle and continued to pat him. 

"Kacchan?" Katsuki whipped her head to where the voice was. She enjoyed petting Yagi so much that she didn't notice anyone was there. Her jaw dropped.

What she saw was a beautifully sculpted man with a body of a god. Drops of water ran down from his neck, down to that hell of a toned chest. Her eyes were set on that single drop traveled across each valley of his abs until it reached that V-line. Jesus fucking christ. Blessed was she because she had seen that Adonis-like body. Thankful. Grateful. 

But that towel hanging around his waist was on the way! 

She must have stared too much because Izuku called her name again. "H-Huh? U-uh, what?" She stuttered. She felt her face heat up. God, this is embarrassing.

"I said, you okay?" Izuku asked, genuinely worried about her. 

She turned around from him. Right. This was the most embarrassing moment of her life. She would embarrass herself more if she stayed looking at him–even if she wanted to. She choked up a cough. "Uh y-yeah. Aunty says lunch is almost ready. So get your ass in the house already!"

Izuku let out a chuckle. Cheeky shit. "Okay Kacchan. I'll just finish washing up." 

"Right." She walked away slowly, but Izuku asked her again if she really was okay. "Y-Yeah, of course I am! It's just kinda hot !" She fanned herself with her hands. "Woooh! Grabe ! Ang hot, este, ang init init naman dito !" She, however, felt cold sweats forming in her forehead. 

"I see! You should take a bath too! It would refreshen you!" Izuku chuckled to himself, seemingly unaware how Katsuki was suddenly all hot and bothered. "It's really hot here during summer." He proceeded to walk back inside the house, leaving Katsuki alone.

Katsuki mouth a 'right' and whipped her head slowly, pouting. She bit her bottom lip when she saw a glimpse of that muscled back. Her senses were thanking all the deities and gods of Bicol because they gave Izuku perfection.

Fuck summer heat and that summer bod. 

—

Katsuki noticed something different. Her eyes wandered around the table, and she felt something was missing. As lunch went by, her eyes only went to the unoccupied spot. The girl with white hair wasn't here. But why? The kid still watched her hours ago. Did she oversleep? Nah, that couldn't be. Her step siblings would drag her out of bed into the dining room. 

"She's sick — Please put the dishes here. Thank you." Kouta, the black-haired kid, responded to her inquiry on where the white-haired kid was. She placed the plates on the sink as the boy requested. "She said she wasn't feeling well. Mama Inko said she has a fever."

"I see." Katsuki hummed.

"Eri is strong. She'll get well in no time." Kouta stated confidently. That made Katsuki smile. Maybe she could pay a visit to her room and see how she's doing.

She went upstairs and passed by Izuku's room. Katsuki saw him on his phone, pacing around. 'She's okay… She's fine… I understand,' She heard him say. It piqued her curiosity about who he was talking to. He sounded worried and kind of upset. Maybe it was about Eri. Nobody in this house is not okay except for that kid.

Shrugging off the thoughts and questions in her head, she proceeded to Eri's room. She knocked and opened the bedroom door quietly. "Hey kid," Katsuki greeted as she peeked through the entryway. She walked up to the little kid and sat on the edge of the bed. She gently placed the back of her hand on the child's forehead to check her temperature. This kid still has a fever. 

The child stilled in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes. " Kuya , ah, Ate Kacchan." She murmured, husky, because of her sore throat. "Where's kuya ?"

"He's on the phone. How are you feeling?" Katsuki asked.

"Feeling better than a while ago." Eri tried to reassure her by smiling a little. Katsuki returned the smile and mouthed 'very good'. " Ate , can you sing a song for me?"

Katsuki gave her a questionable look. "Like a harana ?" The little girl nodded and reasoned that Izuku always sang her a song when she felt ill. It made her feel better and safe. 

Katsuki sighed. Singing wasn't really her talent, but a certain someone taught her to play the guitar. She whipped her head around the room. She found a guitar and grabbed it. "This better work for you, kid." She tsk 'ed. Inhaling a deep breath, she started strumming.

" Lift your head, baby, don't be scared~ " Katsuki started singing. She saw Eri display a smile, which earned a smirk from her. It somehow felt good to make someone smile from your voice.

Did Izuku feel that way too? Whenever he tried to make her smile when she had a bad day by serenading. Did he feel nervous that it won't have an effect on her? He may not know it, but Katsuki always wanted to let Izuku know everything and that she always practiced this song every night. " You'll get by with a smile. Now it's time to kiss away those tears goodbye~ " That his voice resonates in her heart and soul that it made every burden easy on her. That this song is her favorite, he was her favorite. He made her feel better and safe. He made her feel she could do anything.

God, she loves him so much. How could Izuku just tell her he loves her so easily? Katsuki wished she could just simply tell Izuku how much she felt that way. That she wanted to always be by his side, just like how he made her feel she's not alone. 

" Let me hear you sing it~ " Katsuki wanted to say sorry. " Dooroodoo, dooroo doo doo~ " She paused when she heard another voice singing with her. She turned to look behind her and found Izuku smiling while leaning on the door. 

"Hey," she smiled at him.

"That was amazing, Kacchan." Izuku said. He walked up to Eri and kissed her forehead. "Feel better, princess." Then he gazed up at Katsuki. "Didn't know you could play and sing with the guitar."

A faint blush spread across her cheeks. She tried to learn it by herself and show it off to Izuku because she knew that he’d be proud. It seemed to be a successful attempt. "Hah. Of course! Who says I couldn't!" 

"I see. Kacchan is really amazing." He praised her with a smile across his face that made her heart swell and skip a beat. Katsuki scowled just to shake off that kilig she's feeling. Didn’t he know that smile could kill her? Damn. Not now, not in front of a child.

She clicked her tongue and placed the guitar on the bedside table. “Whatever.” She hissed, the tip of her ears reddening. “I’ll go now. The kid’s asleep, anyway.” Katsuki excused herself and headed towards the door.

“Hey Kacchan!” Izuku called. He walked towards her. “Umm,” He choked. She turned towards him and she could see him awkwardly fidgeting his fingers. 

“Yeah?”

“Uhh, since you took care of Eri and well–yeah, serenading her to sleep–,” He started, fidgeting his fingers nervously. He was averting his eyes and scratching the back of his neck. She wanted to act smug because she hasn’t seen Izuku like that for months. “--will you, uh with Eijirou and Mina too, that is, if you w-want to–,” Katsuki raised an eyebrow, trying to understand what he was telling her. What is Izuku saying? He took a deep breath. “Well, since you have been staying here for two weeks, and for working so hard, I want to tour you around the town, you know...?”

Huh? Oh! Her lips curled into a smug smile. “Like a date?” 

He averted his eyes again from her and scratched his cheek. It’s not obvious but a faint blush made his freckles stand out. Cute. “Hmm. Okay. You should make it worth the two weeks of body ache, nerd."

Because why not? One, this was the first time she’s here in Bicol and second, a day spent with Izuku–even with those two idiots she called friends–would still be a day spent with Izuku. No errands. No eyes spying on her. No kids. No mom. No Yagi. Just them.

He nodded. "Of course! You'll love it." Izuku reassured her. Yeah, she definitely would.

~~~

They went on a double date. The four of them started the tour early, as Izuku suggested. Seven in the morning was a bit too early for the gang but it was all worth it. Seeing Mayon Volcano's perfect cone and the ruins up close–well, almost, was the most breathtaking view ever. Never in her life she thought she would see this in person. 

"Just like in the postcards, she's very pretty."  

"Yeah, she is." She heard Izuku agree, not knowing he wasn’t looking ahead but at her way.

For lunch, they went to a restaurant near the ruins. Their table was overlooking the volcano. How romantic, she thought as if Izuku planned it to be special and sappy. Of course, they took as many pictures as they could. 

After lunch, they walked to the well-known Baroque church in the province. It was, again, overlooking the mountain and the sea! Izuku excitedly narrated the church's rich history and that his parents were married here. Katsuki never missed how solemn his face was when he mentioned that.

Their last stop before going home was getting dessert. She never had a sweet tooth, but she enjoyed eating her chili ice cream. It was her favorite part of their date for two reasons. First, it’s because she never had an ice cream like this. Second, because she didn't miss how Izuku looked at her. Seeing that made her think that maybe, just maybe, they would have another chance.

When they got home, Izuku somehow managed to run away from her sight."Where's Deku?" Katsuki asked as she looked around. Mina and Eijirou shrugged. She better find him and talk to him. She only had a week left before they needed to go back to Manila.

 She searched around the house, and she found him on a bench at the back of the house. It's overlooking a small lake. Katsuki found Izuku, sitting there all by himself. 

Izuku turned his head around on Katsuki’s approach. He smiled and genuinely asked what she was doing around there and if something had happened. She didn't reply. Instead, she continued moving closer to sit beside him.

"And you? What are you doing out here? You just went poof and–" She paused when Izuku chuckled. She pouted and gave a narrowed stare. 

"S-Sorry." Izuku gasped, trying to compose himself. "I was just thinking."

"Of what?"

He looked up and sighed. "Kacchan," He started. "Have I told you why I went to Manila?" He asked, still looking up. Katsuki shook her head. She didn't know why a lump was forming in her throat. "I was brokenhearted." Izuku continued. He sounded broken. "My ex told me she doesn't want to be with someone who wanted to stay here and babysit kids that were brought here by my mom. That I wouldn't be successful just living like that." His chest heaved, but he continued. "She was someone I adored. But–" He pursued his lips. "But she deemed me as not worthy of being loved because of my status."

Katsuki opened her lips to speak, but no words came out. Who the hell thought that Izuku wasn't worthy?! She clenched her fist. She never thought of hunting someone down that bad and rub it on her how worthy of being loved Izuku was, that Izuku was amazing. "I swore to myself that I won't allow someone like that in my life again. That way I won't fall in love." 

She whipped her head towards him. Katsuki gasped when Izuku turned to her with tears streaming out of his eyes. "But I met you, Kacchan."

"D-Deku… I–" He had his thumb caressed over her cheek. Tears unknowingly sprung out of her eyes, too. 

"But then again," Izuku continued, looking at her with a sad smile. "we aren't meant to be." Tears continuously streamed down her face.

"W-what do you mean?"

" Hindi tayo bagay , Kacchan." Izuku says quietly. "I was happy I met and fell in love–No, I still love you."

"Then, w-why… W-what the hell are you s-saying?" She sobbed.

"When I was with you, with Eijirou and Mina, my stay in Manila was worth the risk. You all healed me. You, Kacchan, most of all healed my heart." He paused. He sounded like the pain was present in his heart again. "But the people surrounding us–your parents… Their piercing eyes talk to me. It made me remember the pain. Their mocking. Their comments about you and Yo. They all add up. It made me u-unconfident. It made me remember the pain." He hiccuped and wiped away his tears using the back of his hand. "Then it happened."

She bit her bottom lip at the recollection of the memory. 

That was supposed to be a good night for her and her batch mates. The night was young; the music was loud, and people enjoying the party filled the dance floor. But she was just focused on how Izuku looked good in a black and white tuxedo. Her heart skipped a beat whenever he complimented how she rocked her halter and backless black gown. She dressed up pretty just for him. She knew before that night ended, she'd tell Izuku what she felt.

Until she realized it wasn't the right time. Not when she gave in to the teasing of their classmate about her and Yo. They were the King and Queen of the night, and Izuku smiled and assured her she deserved it. The crowd cheered and howled. But behind the wild crowd, Katsuki could see Izuku’s reassuring smile faltering slowly and tears started to pool in his beautiful eyes when the audience demanded a kiss. She gasped, unable to speak nor tell these people to fuck off until Yo pulled her for a quick kiss on her lips. ‘Sorry, they wanted that, not me,’ Katsuki remembered Yo whispering to her. 

She did not find Izuku amongst the people watching her that night. That was the last time Katsuki saw him.

“I-I’m sorry, De-Izuku.” She hiccupped, clenching her dress tightly. She scrunched her eyes and muttered, “Damn it. I-I–I should have prevented that. Should have said no. I s-should have gone down that f-fucking stage and chased you. I-I’m s-so sorry. I love you. F-Forgive me, Izuku. I’m so sorry,” She pleaded as her voice cracked. 

“But you did chase me, Kacchan. You are right here.” He slowly cupped her face and made her look at him. He wiped her tears with the pad of his thumbs. “It still hurts, yes, but there's never a day I haven't forgiven you. Since day one, Kacchan. You didn’t have to go here and lie to your parents. They are so worried about you.”

With mouth agape, she looked at him with widened eyes. “W-What?”

“Katsuki.” That was a voice so familiar to her. She whipped her head to where the voice was. It was her dad. His voice was gentle and his eyes filled with worry but she could sense the silent anger and disappointment beneath it. Yo Shindo was standing next to him.

“D-Dad? What are y–”

“Go home, Kacchan.” She looked at Izuku who gave her a small smile. Then she realized that time when she saw Izuku on the phone. He must have been talking either with his dad or Yo. "Go home. They are so worried about you." 

Katsuki didn't want to go back yet. She and Izuku were just about there, ready to mend whatever this mutual feeling was between them. She hasn't yet shown him how sorry she was. She wanted to do more for him. 

Tears poured from her eyes as Katsuki held on Izuku’s pinkie with her trembling hand. "Kacchan, you have done so much for my family and me." Izuku wiped her wet cheeks with the pad of his thumb. The look in his eyes reassured her that everything-she, him and what’s between them-were alright.  

Izuku leaned closer and placed a small, quick kiss on her forehead. It was too innocent, too quick, and too pure. Then he gave her another feather-light peck at the corner of her lips. When his lips ghosted her skin, Katsuki thought nothing and just allowed her body to move. She grabbed Izuku’s collar and pulled him down so Katsuki could kiss him better. She wrapped her arms around Izuku’s neck while his hands slowly found their way around her waist as their lips tangoed together. 

"Wait for me, nerd, okay?" She whispered against his lips when they parted. She gently caressed his face. The pad of her thumb ran along his freckles. God, she wished she could endlessly count them. "Fuck, just–wait for me. Then, I'll sing for you. Okay?"

"I will. You're worth the wait."

She let go of his hand and walked up to her dad. All the while, she turned her head to look at Izuku one last time. This time she was the one leaving him. She was leaving her heart behind.

But Izuku's eyes and smile assured her that he was, and always would be, a home where she could go back to.

💚END🧡