The fresh, slightly chilly autumn air hit his entire body, his reddish gaze on the sunset horizon of Tokyo Skytree Town. Perhaps it's the perfect moment to open up to you.

"I think it's time you started thinking more highly of yourself. Otherwise... you won't notice the most obvious things."

Those were one of the few words Katsuki said to Izuku that day they went to meet up with the rest of the former Class 1-A to celebrate Shoto's promotion.

Lately, those words became unnecessarily repetitive, especially when his mind is unoccupied and he has free time.

Time has changed; he's different. Katsuki Bakugo is still fierce and competitive, but now he's more empathetic, thoughtful, and aware of his mistakes, one might even say humble (in his own way).

He's matured.

Normally, that kind of thing doesn't bother him, but he began to reflect on it. How own words made sense to him in a way.

The moment you crossed paths with him, at least at first, you didn't turn him upside down. Katsuki was still recovering from everything he'd been through during the war, including death when he met you.

He never thought he'd see something or someone that could make his heart race without adrenaline. He was terrified by how easily you could read him, yet couldn't quite grasp the end of the hole.

He didn't find you annoying, but rather intriguing, curious, and in some cases, exasperating. But over time, he began to understand you, to understand you, and vice versa.

Annoying you with the smoke from his explosions and the light shoving had become something he'd become, without realizing it, beginning to appreciate.

He and his heart said nice things about you, like how you sometimes smiled, the way your eyes sparkled when you tasted his homemade food, how you seemed to be his hypothetical type, or how you always told him to screw everyone, that he's not as bad as people make him out to be on the news every time there's a story about his behavior toward the paparazzi. It makes something in his chest tighten, a feeling that has lingered for the past six years.

Katsuki has wondered if you would reciprocate his feelings, if you would love every part of him.

However, before he can think about it further, your voice snaps him out of his thoughts. He turns to look at you, only to realize you're back. You'd gone to buy coffees for both floors downstairs, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

He had to suppress a crooked smile at the sight of you. You looked so comfortable with him in those moments that for a moment he stopped thinking about everything that was eating away at his head.