Chapter 36.5: Ding! Ding! Chicken Dinner

Katsuki is enraged. What Shouta told him when they're in the hospital hit him spot on. He hated to admit it but Shouta is definitely right. Their world is getting bigger. The world is not revolving around them anymore. Chiharu will meet new friends and will have another goal in mind. She will definitely change. But he, on the other hand, is stuck up with her. Of course, she is great and all, she doesn't need him in the first place. However, is it wrong to feel this way? What if Chiharu leaves just like that? And the one who will be beside her is not him anymore. It just felt wrong.

Besides, something is wrong with him. Every time he is with Chiharu, there's this weird feeling in his chest, a squirming stomach, he has this urge to see her every day and it seems ridiculous as he imagine, but he has this urge to really kiss…her. Yes, it may sound crazy but that's it. However, recovery girl diagnosed him as someone who has shitting issues. And he knows that the diagnosis is definitely wrong. But it really creeps him off, he wanted to see her so bad but he can't because he decided to mildly avoid her and give her the chance to make friends. He really hates the idea but he hated how Shouto told him that Chiharu is her own—and he is definitely right. Well, like hell he'll admit that right in front of that bastard's face. And also, he wanted to solve this 'disease' before it gets out of hand.

"Fuck!" Katsuki cursed out of the blue. His classmates flinched from hearing him getting so pumped up on his own. As he gets so frustrated with the weird feeling inside his chest, an unlucky Izuku happened to pass by him which led him to pour all the stress he's been keeping.

"Hey Deku!"

"K-Kacchan?!"

"You have the guts to—"He stopped mid-sentence when he begrudgingly thought about Chiharu smiling at him, telling him that he should be nice with Izuku. It made him infuriated but magically it depleted every single anger he has.

"Never mind. Fuck." He grumbled, rolling his eyes from him.

"Ah... Err… A-Alright?" Izuku replied and he is about to walk towards his seat when Katsuki called him again, "Deku!"

"Y-Yes?" The curly green haired boy flinched for the umpteenth time.

"You!" He pointed. He swears he's so utterly pissed with his current situation and he wanted to beat the crap out of Izuku but whenever he does that Chiharu's smiling face will pop out of his mind.

"Go and visit her later!" He commanded, seemingly out of character.

"E-Eh? K-Kacchan, a-are you sick?" Izuku's eyes broadened. Now he is confused about the sudden turn of events. He swears to himself that he is totally ready to get pummeled up by the ash-blonde yet he receives nothing but a reminder to visit Chiharu.

"What the hell? I'm not! Stupid bastard!" He stands up and kicks his chair before leaving the room in total silence.

After causing a scene in the classroom, Katsuki found his tracks going towards the UA garden. He wanted peace. He wanted someone to tell him what to do next, but hell, he'd rather die than asking someone for help. In that case, he's been independent in his younger years so he guesses that he can do it all alone, yet he knows that he'll be doomed. He is currently seating in a bench by himself, ultimately contemplating of Shouto's words as well as the condition of his heart. As he's minding his own business, someone inevitably spoke from behind.

"Hey, bro. Got something in your mind?"

The ecstatic voice called him. When he heard that he knew that it'll be a certain redhead with spiky hair with a large grin plastered on his face. All in all, it only speaks Ejirou.

"None of your business." Katsuki sighed.

Eijirou didn't mind his reply and proceeded to seat beside him, "Ah, is it about Chiharu-chan?"

"Fuck off." The ash-blonde cussed, sliding himself away from him. Though his grumpiness didn't stop Eijirou's worries about his current situation. It only resulted him to pry even closer to the core of the problem, "So it is! So what happened? You're as grumpier than usual!"

"What's your problem? Why do you have to stick your nose in my business?!" Katsuki snapped. He didn't need someone right at this moment. He is utterly confused in this situation. Now snapping upon the redhead might tick some senses and leave him all alone. However, he didn't get his desired response from the guy next to him.

Eijirou smiled, really wide, replying to him swiftly, "Well, we're bros right?"

"Absolutely, fucking not." To which, Katsuki immediately shut him down. There's no way he'll be friends with an idiot.

It's been a few days since Katsuki has been grumpier than usual, as he has noticed. He really wanted to help him even just a little. All his life the ash-blonde has been reliant with Chiharu, and didn't even make any friends outside his tiny little circle. And it's about time to let Katsuki experience the real world. Chiharu won't be present at all times. That's why, Eijirou has this urge to be friends with him. Forget the past, he really wants to support him.

Though if he continued to beat around the bush, Katsuki will just be pissed and won't have any urge to tell him the whole story. Instead, he needs to push some buttons. He needs a bait and apparently he knows who to 'bait'. The only thing that can make him turn his attention to anyone is, apparently, the girl that he unknowingly likes—Chiharu.

"Ahhhh, that's a bummer." Eijirou nonchalantly opened, "If your problem concerns Chiharu-chan, then I know how to solve it."

Bingo. Katsuki's ears perked up. He couldn't believe what he just heard. He swears that if Eijirou is just bluffing he is ready to bust his skull off. However, in this situation, he wanted to know what he'll do, and maybe, just maybe, Eijirou knows what to do.

"I fucking swear if you're fucking lying!"

"I'm not going to screw you off!"

"Don't fucking tell anyone or I'll bust your skull off!"

"Why would I?" Eijirou chuckled, "I am your friend you know?"

Friend, huh? It's been a while since he heard that word. Normally, the only one who speaks about being chummy and friends to others is no other than Chiharu itself. Somehow, he really misses her company. Despite being his complete opposite, she complements him.

"Knock, knock," Eijirou hummed, "So? Details! Spill!"

"Ugh..." Katsuki groaned, rubbing his temple. "I, uh. Hm. That is...ugh. Fuck."

Eijirou frowned. "That explained nothing."

Katsuki's hair instantly frizzed. "I'm thinking, damn it! Don't rush me!"

"Okay, sorry..." Eijirou backed away.

Katsuki explained the events from Shouto saving Chiharu from the truck, their talk in the hospital, and how Shouta puts him on his place. All this occurrences made Eijirou thought about it a lot. Well, he needs to calmly and gently put his words on its right places or Katsuki will screw him.

"Bakugou, Chiharu-chan needs friends. Well, you're friends with her but other than you. He needs other people." Eijirou explained, to which Katsuki listened carefully and didn't even react for the first time. Somehow, it irks Eijirou about him listening to him calmly.

Eijirou continued, "Plus, you also need other people other than Chiharu-chan."

"Shut the fuck up, I don't need extras. All I wanted to know is how to make Chiharu cheerful as before!"

Eijirou sighs, it's still too early to break his walls. Well now, he has no choice but to continue his 'advice' solely focusing to Chiharu, "In other words, let her be. You're getting possessive you know? In the first place you don't own her. No one owns her because she is her own. You just have to jump in-between when it's getting pretty intense. But in her current case, she's actually trying to burst out of her zone, so let her be."

Katsuki grumbled under his breath. Just imagining other people swarming around her urges him to knock them one by one. Plus, he hated how Eijirou is totally right but right now that's what she misses the most. Chiharu will not be with him always and so he is. Chiharu isn't going to school so she misses a lot of things that is happening inside the classroom; making friends, listening to class and many more. He gets it. He just needs to let her be, that's all. But, it doesn't mean that he'll keep any eye to other people.

"Is that problem solve?" Eijirou picked on his silence, "or maybe… not? So there' another one?"

"Lately, Haru seems a different person." Katsuki blatantly told him. Now, what he wanted to know is the condition of his chest. Eijirou might not be a doctor. But damn, he has good senses in his words so it wouldn't hurt if he opened about this, right?

"How? She's Chiharu-chan that I know…"

"No, it's not fucking dumbass." He trailed, "She's… ah, fuck.

"She's a—what?"

"She's getting prettier day by day."

Eijirou's face fell, "What the hell dude? At last?"

"At last what!?'

"You realize that? Chiharu-chan is a beauty, you know.

"I fucking know! But more like, she's fucking… radiating! "

"Whenever I look at her, she stands out the most. She's strong and brave. She's the best person I ever met. One time, in the hospital, I have this urge to fucking k-k-ki—ss."

The last word made Eijirou's 'shipping' heart burst into happiness. He wanted to scream or jump in delight when he heard that. At last, Katsuki is catching up in his emotios. As much as he wanted to celebrate his friend's progress, he tried his best to remain cool, "Y-You what? So you did?

"Of course not! Why would I?! Plus, I have this faster heart rate, a weird feeling in my chest, squirming stomach and fuck…" He breathe, "She's fucking beautiful."

"So what is Chiharu-chan for you?" Eijirou asked.

That simple question meant the world to him. Come to think about it, he also wanted to know the answer but he knows that the only who can answer that stupid question is him alone. Chiharu has been with ever since they're kids. She tolerated his shitty attitude. She tolerated with his selfishness. She stood by the fact that he's not a villain. She's always make his life calm and radiation. The only one who knows him is her. She meant the world to him. Aragaki Chiharu is my queen.

"C'mmon, just tell me," Eijirou prodded, "If you don't, then...well..." He rubbed his chin in thought, careful of what information Katsuki presented to take hostage. His teeth glinted in a grin once he stumbled on the answer. "I won't tell you the cure for your illness."

That did it. Like a cat put in front of catnip, Katsuki's pupils thinned in attentiveness to the word 'cure.' "You'd better be serious about that."

Eijirou held his hands up. "Scout's honor."

Katsuki quickly dodged Eijirou's question a while ago then proceeded to confess his thoughts, "I admit that I am fucking annoyed by the fact you confessed to her. Recently, I'm even more pissed to half n' half."

"Oh that's simple." Eijirou deadpanned.

"What is it?"

The redhead confidently answered, "You're just jealous."

"H-Huh? J-Jealous? Me? Who?"

"Well, is it alright if I date Chiharu-chan?

"W-What are you talking about? Haru doesn't like you. Besides, the guy who suits her is—"

The guy who suits her is…

Eijirou pointed, "What? You?"

Me…

Fuck, is he an esper? Plus, why will I say that?

The redhead completed his deductions. "The cure for your sickness is..." Eijirou stood up and valiantly raised his arm. He held the silence, taking notice of Katsuki furtively peeking at him from the corner of his eye. They looked at each other, one grinning and the other scowling, then tore their gazes apart again.

Katsuki could not take the waiting anymore. He scowled at him for the umpteenth time, teeth grinding in anger. "Spit it out already!" he demanded with a balled and smokey fist.

Eijirou's mischievous sneer warmed into a gentle smile at seeing his proud friend so troubled about these newfound adolescent feelings. Bakugou Katsuki- experienced, daunting and well-versed in battle, but an absolute beansprout at being a normal person. It was just too amusing to let go. He lowered his arm and answered simply, "Acceptance."

Katsuki's face fell. "You're fucking with me again."

"I'm serious, dude. Acceptance. You have to accept your feelings like a man! After doing that, you'll feel tons of pounds lighter than ever before!"

"What fuckin' feelings are you babbling on about? I don't have any of that shit."

"That you like Chiharu-chan. Unlike you, I admit that I really like her. Look, even if I like her, I am trying to be a wingman for you."

Katsuki could hear a faint ringing in his cochlea, having to rub an index finger in his ear to clear it of any residue to be sure. "Huh?" he asked dumbly.

Eijirou sighed and shook his head, expecting this kind of response from the socially inept blonde. "Now, let me rephrase that." He cleared his throat and looked at Katsuki straight in the eye. "You're in love with 'Haru'."

Eijirou continued, "Duh, who wouldn't like her? Like hell, she's a total package. And clearly you're the only guy who's so dense to figure that out."

"Then, date her!" Katsuki spat.

This time, Eijirou didn't hesitate to become serious to his declaration, "Are you sure?"

"Wha—"

"I'll steal her."

"What the fuck?"

"Jokes on you, I already got rejected. Plus, I know a person who's more suited for her!"

"Who the—"

"You, Bakugou. " Eijirou blatantly told him the truth.

The hairs on the back of Katsuki's neck rose as a shiver traveled down his back. The phrase felt so foreign and distasteful that it nearly made him nauseous. "Oy, Shitty Hair," he gagged, "If this is your idea of some sick joke, it's not funny at all." He expected another wave of laughter, but was astonished when it did not come. Looking back at Eijirou, he saw that the redhead was indeed serious. His face scrunched into a disgusted grimace. "You're shitting me!"

Eijirou lifted his hand and counted the reasons with his fingers as he explained, "Faster heart rate, a weird feeling in your chest, squirming stomach, and the incessant need to kiss her are dead giveaways, Bakugou! Plus, you should have seen your face when you are so overprotective towards her!" He nearly mentioned the jealous tendencies the growling boy often showed when any guy was near Chiharu, but decided to hold that one in reserve for another time. Just in case.

"I should just focus on my way to become the number one hero! She's just my childhood friend, that's all!" Katsuki argued, "If I gave her the time to be friends with other people. That'll fix everything!"

Eijirou rolled his eyes as his mind searched for another way to convey his advice to Katsuki. Logic said: if the stubborn teen would not hear it from others, then the best way would be if he heard it from himself. His eyes lit up as an idea came to him. But first, he had to lower Katsuki's defenses, so he feigned a look of disappointment and sat next to the blonde to deliver his magic words, "Just kidding."

"So you are fucking with me again!" Katsuki instantly flared.

Eijirou interrupted before Katsuki could explode again, "Spicy food!" It was a lame idea, but it was all he had on a whim. All he could do now was hope that this grumpy puffer fish would bite.

Eijirou added, "You like it, don't you?"

"What the hell?"

Bingo! Eijirou suppressed a smile and elaborated, "I'm going to name some things really quickly and you have to say if you love it or not to match my speed. Got it?" He held up a finger. "You have to answer instinctively. No overthinking allowed! If you fall behind, you lose and I'll tell Sero or Kaminari your secrets. But if you keep up and win, I'll do your homework for a week." Eijirou knew he would never tell Katsuki's secrets to anyone without consent, but had to come up with a dangerous enough ultimatum for his plan to work.

Katsuki's brows furrowed. Just what was this spiky-haired moron up to now? Calling a game out of nowhere was definitely odd, but as the redhead said, it may just be the distraction he needed to clear his mind. That, and he could not have that idiot Hanta or even Denki blabbing about his private affairs. It would ruin him. Eijirou would be doing homework for more than a week for that threat. "Fine," he snorted, "A battle of instincts should be simple enough."

"Alright, here I go," Eijirou said excitedly as he rubbed his palms together. "Curry."

"Well, it depends on how sp-"

"No overthinking!" Eijirou chided the blonde, "Just answer it abruptly."

Katsuki's irritation rose, but he reluctantly mumbled, "Love it."

"Karaoke."

"Hate it."

"Billiards."

"Love it."

"Midoriya?"

"Hate his stupid ass."

Eijirou smirked at how well the flow was going and resumed his list. "Mountain climbing."

"Love it."

"Fist fights."

"Love it."

"Explosions?"

"Goddamn best!"

"Haru?"

"Love her."

It was not until the words left him that Katsuki's mouth fell open and his eyes turned wide as saucers. His body rusted in angling to see a snickering Eijirou pointing accusingly at him. The goof even had the nerve to use her nickname to deceive him.

"Ah!"

"I told you so," Eijirou chuckled and hardened his body just in time to take the barrage of fists Katsuki launched at him.

Katsuki knew it was futile, but persisted in the assault anyway. He had never been so infuriated at being made a fool of and by the only person he considered a comrade of all people. Betrayal. Humiliation. Scorn. These feelings tore ferociously at him from all directions, threatening to strip him of any sense of self he had left.

"Fuck you Shitty Hair!"

Love. "You're in love with 'Haru'."

Katsuki shook his head. That word echoed unpleasantly in his thoughts, taunting him. 'It can't be true,' he fought with himself, 'That shitty concept is just needless distraction for the weak!'

Chiharu's smiling face appeared for a brief moment, but then vanished like a mirage.

Katsuki withdrew his fists, hissing at the pain pounding in his skull and knuckles. "Enough..." he breathed, "I've had enough of this nonsense. Shit like that means nothing to me." There's no way he'll like her… There's just no wa—Her crying face came next, tears clear as crystal as they trailed down her peachy cheeks. Those tears were shed because of him.

'That's right.' His chest twisted painfully. 'She is in her current situation because of me. I don't deserve to be with her.' He pinched himself and winced. 'They can have that. Becoming the number one hero comes first with her together.

Eijirou tilted his head at the brooding teen. "Still not accepting it, huh?" he asked.

"There's nothing to accept," Katsuki immediately shot the crimson-haired boy down, "Don't assume things you don't know jack shit about because that seriously pisses me off."

Things were looking bad, but Eijirou was determined to see this through, leaving the school headless or not. He opted for one last push. "I don't buy it."

"Hah?!" Katsuki was incredulous. He knew he could never feel 'love.' Their classmates knew, he was sure Chiharu knew, Izuku certainly figured it out long ago, and yet the only person denying it was the one who he thought understood him most- Eijirou.

"I don't believe you," Eijirou stated again.

Katsuki punched his own palm. "Just what the hell do I have to do for you to believe me, huh?" he growled, "If I let you leave here like this, you'll blab this shit to Soy Sauce face or Pikachu. That's really low, even for you, shitty hair. You're becoming a real pain in the ass."

Bingo again! Eijirou pulled out his phone and waved it in the air with a toothy grin. "Go on a mixer with me then. If you really don't have any feelings for Chiharu-chan, then hanging out with other girls shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"...why the fuck would I ever want to do that. And sports festival is coming, I don't have time for that shit." It was more of a sarcastic remark than a question.

"Of course, it will be after the Sports Festival. I wanted to win too you know. You'll prove that you don't feel anything for her aside from camaraderie. It'll just be a night of harmless fun."

"I don't have to prove anything to you," Katsuki spat.

"Then do it for you," Eijirou countered nimbly, "Prove to yourself that you don't have any feelings for her. I know you're not sure." Malevolent flames burned in Katsuki's eyes, the likes of which he had never seen before. He knew he hit a nerve and felt a little guilty about it, but figured this was the best way to help his ailing friend. 'Sorry, Bakugou. I'm doing all this for you.' He readied himself for another onslaught of punches, eyes squinting in defense at the glaring blonde.

"...what do people do at a mixer..." Katsuki muttered with a defeated pout.

Eijirou's smirk widened. 'Ding-ding-ding! Chicken dinner.'

Author's Note:

To make it up for my absence for the past few months, I present my 36.5 to you my readers! I hope ya'll enjoy and leave a comment 33333