Living-in-the-moment label

Ever since they started their living-in-the-moment label, Deku's friends from his academic circle have noticeably lessened. But it can't be helped since he, himself, also stopped participating in extra-curricular activities and thus, effectively removing the reason for their interactions. Now, Deku found himself slowly integrating with Kacchan's kind of people--Shigaraki, Kirishima, Ashido--and he didn't really find anything wrong with that. Sure, they weren't as academically focused as his previous mates, but it was alright. They weren't bad as what people deemed them to be.

But people continued to judge.

"Midoriya," A stern voice called him as soon as the class ended. Midoriya turned around to see the prim and proper Iida adjusting his glasses.

"Hey, there." He greeted, lamely.

Iida didn't seem to take notice. "You haven't been studying as much as you did, Midoriya-kun."

Midoriya blinked. "Pardon?" This is some de ja vu shit.

Iida coughed, his cheeks colored with a blush. "I haven't seen you studying at the café that much anymore."

"Are you stalking me?"

"No!" He clears his voice. "Sorry for raising my voice."

"No harm taken."

"As I was saying, it seemed like your um... nightly endeavors caused you to lag up on your academic demands." Iida then pointed at the stack of books Midoriya was carrying, emphasizing his point.

He couldn't help but blush. "I really do feel like you're stalking me."

"Just the power of deduction," Iida smiled. And it was such a rare sight to behold that Deku's mind went blank for a second. "You have one of the best study habits I've ever seen, I used to see you at the café finishing a report or two a week before the deadline. But now, you seem to be cramming five deadlines at once."

If only his hands were free, Deku would've raised his hands up in the air in defeat.

"You got me," He laughed. "Is this where the conversation is going? You schooling me with my deteriorating study habits?"

It was meant to be a joke. Yet, Iida didn't seem to find the humor in his words. "I know I'm not in the position to tell you this, Midoriya-kun, but as a person who admires your integrity and your work ethics, please rethink your choice of company."

"Is this about Kacchan and your unknown vendetta against him?" Deku's tone turned sour, the light-heartedness in his voice completely extinguished as soon as Kacchan was negatively implicated. "Iida-san, I don't know what you have against Kacchan since Day 1 but--"

Iida shook his head.

"Shigaraki Tomura."

There was such intense menace in his voice that it effectively shut Deku up. He always knew that there was something wrong with Shigaraki and his crew. Heck, the establishment he owned (which Shigaraki claimed was a gift from his adopted father) was named villain pub as if that didn't color him sketchy enough, making it seem like it was a meeting place for small-time hooligans or drug lords or whatever.

"I rest my case," Iida said. "I'm sorry for taking up your time."

Deku shook his head. "No problem."

The navy-blue haired gentleman smiled. Weird. "And if ever you need help with your school work, I can offer help if you'd like."

To say that Deku was taken aback was an understatement. But since he really was lagging and he really needed to catch up with his work, he gave it a quick thought.

"I'll keep that in mind."

***

There was this unspoken law between the two of them that they will not commit PDA outside their room. Deku blamed it on the fact that Kacchan didn't want to show 'weakness' in front of other people or just didn't want people to talk about them because it wasn't any of their business.

But tonight, they were breaking it.

Deku wasn't sure who started it or why they did it in the first place, though he knew he could always blame it on the alcohol and his alcohol-induced higher libido, suddenly they were making out on the dance floor while gyrating their hips together in an attempt to make each other want but not enough to give release.

"Shhhhhit Dekkuuuu," Kacchan slurred, seemingly trying to undress Deku with his drunk eyes. "I could fuk youuu righhht hereeee."

And before Deku could say, fuck yeah, he felt a hand separating them from each other.

"Heeeeey," A more sober Ashido said carefully. "you guys shouldn't do that while everybody else can see you."

"Fuuuuk you Shhhhhitty Heyyyr and yorrrrrr cokkkkkblokkkkkking." But since Kacchan was unsteady and incoherent, his words didn't seem as threatening as how he normally would.

"Believe me, buddy, you're gonna be thankful that I stopped you in the morning." Kirishima patted him on the back.

Deku might be drunk as fuck but he saw the unmistakable look of discomfort on Kirishima's face. Soon after the separation incident, Kirishima went outside to 'sober up'. Deku followed him like it was his business.

Due to his raging red hair, it was rather easy to spot Kirishima sitting on a bench near the pub, smoking under the cool night breeze. Deku walked towards him and asked his permission to sit beside him.

"Go ahead," He gestured.

And so Deku did.

Kirishima, being the gentleman that he is, offered his pack. Deku immediately shook his head but thanked him, anyway.

"You know, the night I tried to kiss Bakugo, he told me I stink of cigs."

Midoriya choked at nothing in particular.

"That never stopped me from smoking though." He laughed mirthlessly, not minding his companion's unbecoming reaction. "I used to think, but what if I didn't smoke, would he have kissed me? But after seeing your act of exhibitionism today, I realized that even if I quit all the vices in the world, he wouldn't have kissed me."

Izuku blushed at the word 'exhibitionism' as if he only realized the gravity of their actions just now.

"Bakugo was always firm about his likes and dislikes. One of the things he hated the most, I found out, was being touched in public. It doesn't even have to be sexual, just the act of you putting your hand on his back or your arm at his shoulder is enough for him to punch you mercilessly. But what he did with you just now, that was over the boundaries. I didn't think it was humanely possible. But it did. You made it possible.

"You know, I think the reason why I fell in love with Bakugo was how broken he was and he knew that so the released all this pent-up frustration within him by being angry all the time. I tried to fix him by offering friendship, my unrequited love, heck, even sex. But the thing is, Midoriya, you can't fix a person who doesn't want you to fix them. He didn't want me to do it, Bakugo wanted you to."

He didn't know when but Kirishima started crying. It was pathetic at the same time, this macho guy, the epitome of masculinity, was crying before him because of unrequited love. It was just a vulnerable sight that Midoriya couldn't help but lean in. Scarlet eyes widened but soon enough Kirishima closed his eyes, letting the tears trickle down his cheeks as he responded with Midoriya's kiss.

After a while, they both pulled away, breathless.

"I hope I can at least offer you an indirect kiss," Midoriya shyly bit his lips.

Kirishima looked at him, stunned. A few seconds later, he covered his face with his arm to hide the redness that started from his head down to his neck.

"A-a-are you okay?" He panicked. "Did I s-s-s-surprise you?"

"No, no, it was amazing!" Kirishima reaffirmed his kissing abilities. But honestly, that was none of Deku's concerns. "I just realized how much of a true bro you are."

Deku didn't know what to make of that. "T-thanks?" He paused. "I don't mind that you taste of cigarettes," Deku added as an afterthought, mumbling to himself rather than to Kirishima himself.

His last sentence was enough to ignite the fire within Kirishima's heart. He grabbed the back of Deku's head and spoke.

"Would you mind if this time, I want a kiss directly from you?"

Kirishima grinned, showing his pearly white canines. Dear god, this man might look like he could beat you up to a bloody pulp (and he can and he will) but he's basically just a human version of a Golden Retriever.

Their lips touched, completely ignoring Kacchan's screeches and Mina's gasp that was getting closer and closer.

"Midoriya-chan?" Someone croaked behind him as he was ordering from the café near his dorm.

"Asui-san--," Deku shook his head. "Tsuyu-chan, how have you been? I haven't seen you in a while."