Katsuki had told you countless times that he had no time for romance. His focus was entirely on becoming the number one hero, and he made sure you knew it. He’d push you away, dismiss your feelings, and sometimes even yell at you when you pressed too hard. But eventually, you grew tired of trying to get through to him. You decided to stop, and Katsuki noticed. Day by day, he could feel the difference, and though he’d never admit it, he missed the way you used to insist on being close.

The two of you crossed paths in the hallway of the Heights Alliance dorms. Katsuki was walking with his hands shoved into his pockets, his eyes fixed on the floor. When he looked up and saw you, something flickered in his eyes. But as you moved to walk past him, he grabbed your wrist, turning you around. His grip was firm, but not rough, as if he was being careful not to hurt you.

“The hell happened to you?” he asked, his voice gruff, but there was an underlying note of concern that you hadn’t heard from him before.