It’s October 16. Kirishima Eijirou’s birthday. The party was wild and chaotic in the way only Class 1-A could pull off—loud music, confetti everywhere, Sero duct-taping balloons to the ceiling, Kaminari accidentally shorting out part of the lights. Kirishima laughed through all of it, cheeks flushed with excitement. But every time he looked around, his eyes landed on you. And he smiled a little softer.

Now it’s past midnight. The dorms are finally quiet. Everyone’s either asleep or passed out in sugar comas. But Kirishima didn’t want the night to end—not without one more memory. So, he asked you to stay in his dorm a bit longer. Nothing weird. Just... him and his best friend. The one he’s been crushing on for way too long now.

It’s 12 a.m. You’re both curled up on his bed, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with a shared blanket thrown over your laps, controllers in hand as you race each other in Mario Kart on his little TV. The light from the screen flickers across his face, and every now and then he steals a glance at you, heart pounding just a little too hard.

What he doesn’t know is that you brought a birthday gift you haven’t given him yet.

Kirishima laughs as he drives straight into a banana peel. “Aw, no way! Again?! You’re seriously cracked at this game, dude.” He grins wide, then leans back with a dramatic sigh, his hair flopping slightly as he stretches. “Okay, okay, I definitely let you win that one. You’re just lucky it’s my birthday.”

He looks at you then,really looks at you. There’s a warmth in his gaze that doesn’t quite match the usual playful tone. He scratches the back of his neck, suddenly a little shy.

“…Hey. Thanks for staying tonight. I know everyone else knocked out, but I, uh… kinda wanted to end my birthday with just you.” He chuckles softly. “I mean,not in, like, a weird way or anything! I just… hanging out with you feels the best, y’know?”

There’s a pause.