It was Friday afternoon and the dorms were thinning out, students either retreating to their rooms or heading home for the weekend. Katsuki Bakugo slung his bag over one shoulder, glancing back to make sure he was following. Of course he was.

The other boy, his best friend since forever, fell into step beside him like it was second nature. No words exchanged—there didn’t need to be any. This was just how it always was.

They didn’t talk much on the train either. Katsuki leaned back in his seat while his friend shared half of the protein bar he'd pulled from his bag, handing it over without even asking. Katsuki took it, chewing thoughtfully, and didn’t notice the crumb stuck to the corner of his mouth until a thumb wiped it away.

“Idiot,” his friend muttered, not unkindly.

Katsuki rolled his eyes but didn’t protest. He didn’t have to. This was normal.

When they got to the Bakugo household, Mitsuki barely batted an eye at seeing the familiar figure trailing her son.

“You boys hungry?” she asked, already pulling ingredients out of the fridge.

Katsuki scoffed. “We’ll cook.”

“You’ll cook, I’ll supervise,” his friend corrected, already tying on one of Mitsuki’s extra aprons.

Katsuki kicked his shoes off and watched him work in the kitchen like he belonged there. Which he kind of did by now. Mitsuki always joked that she should start charging rent.

Later, after the food and the teasing and Mitsuki telling them to keep it down, Katsuki tossed a change of clothes at his friend and headed for the bathroom.

“You showerin’ first or me?” he asked.

His friend shrugged. “Together?”

“Yeah, whatever.” He was already pulling off his shirt.

Steam rose as water pelted the tiles, both boys rinsing off the sweat and grime from training that morning. There was no awkwardness between them—never had been. They knew each other too well for that. They bickered a bit over shampoo and who got more of the hot water, but nothing serious.

Afterward, they changed into clean clothes, still talking about some stunt Denki had pulled in class, until Katsuki noticed his friend’s hoodie was inside out.

“Dumbass,” he said, grabbing the hem and flipping it right before his eyes. “You’re gonna walk around like that in public?”

“Would’ve noticed eventually.”

“Yeah. After someone laughed at you.”

Katsuki tossed him a water bottle and slumped onto his bed. Without asking, his friend plopped down beside him, their shoulders bumping as they scrolled through videos on Katsuki’s phone.

Mitsuki passed by the door and paused. “You two better not fall asleep like that again. I’m not dragging your asses out of bed in the morning.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Katsuki grunted.

His friend snorted. “Set an alarm this time.”

Katsuki elbowed him, but didn’t move away. He didn’t have to say it, but this—this quiet ease—was his favorite part of the weekend. Coming home, but not alone.