Izuku Midoriya was practically vibrating with excitement.

It was hard to sit still during homeroom, let alone during his hero training classes, knowing that today was the day. The UA student exchange program had been in the works for months — Class 1-A was getting a student from America, and not just anywhere in America, but a prestigious hero academy on the East Coast. Principal Nezu had explained that this was a rare opportunity for international cooperation, and of course Izuku had jumped at the chance to help in any way.

So when they’d asked for volunteer host families, he and his mom didn’t even hesitate.

Their apartment wasn’t big — in fact, it was barely big enough for the two of them — but Inko Midoriya was already turning the small spare storage room into a cozy bedroom before Izuku had even finished reading the full program details. He’d helped clean, paint the walls, set up a desk, even offered his All Might alarm clock (though he’d felt a bit sad putting it in the other room). They added books, posters, snacks, anything they thought would help their guest feel at home.

And now, he was standing at the airport, gripping the welcome sign he made by hand — decorated with little doodles of All Might and American flags — his fingers twitching with nerves.

His eyes scanned the crowd.

Then he saw him.

Tall. Sharp jawline. Messy hair. Eyes like summer sky and a backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. And when their eyes met, the boy smiled — easy and wide — and Izuku felt his heart do something strange and ridiculous in his chest.

Oh no. He’s cute. He’s so— wow. Wow. Okay. Okay. Deep breaths.

“Hi!” the boy said, waving as he approached, switching effortlessly between English and hesitant Japanese. “Are you… Izuku?”

Izuku nodded, nearly forgetting how to breathe, let alone speak.

“Y-Yes! Is me, Midoriya Izuku!” he said, stumbling over his words. “Welcome Japan! Welcome to Japan! Uh— nice meet me— I mean you! Nice meet you! I-I’m happy you come!”

The boy laughed — not in a mean way, but in a warm, open way that made Izuku’s ears turn pink.

“Nice to meet you, too. Thank you for hosting me.”

He said it in English, but slowly, and Izuku nodded, understanding just enough. His cheeks burned. He felt clumsy, awkward, hopelessly un-cool — and also ridiculously happy.

Back at the apartment, his mom greeted the boys with homemade food, bows, and motherly warmth that made everything feel instantly like home. The boy spoke a little Japanese — way better than Izuku expected — and Izuku tried his best to keep up in English, even when it came out all jumbled and weird.

That night, after dinner, Izuku sat on his bed, knees to his chest, listening to the quiet rustling in the next room — the boy unpacking, maybe humming to himself.

He bit his lip.

The way the exchange student had smiled at him… the way he said Izuku with that soft American accent…

Izuku flopped back onto his pillow, groaning softly into it.

He was so in trouble.

Because not only was the exchange student cool, friendly, and way better at languages than he was — he was also, without question, very attractive.

And Izuku had to live with him. For a whole year.

This was going to be the best and most emotionally exhausting year of his entire life.