“Katsuki’s boyfriend /hates me/,” Mitsuki whisper-screeched, clutching her head and Masaru sighed, frowning as he took hold of one of Mitsuki’s hands.

“Hey, hey. He was probably just surprised, especially since the first thing you did to greet Katsuki was…hit him…”

Masaru and Mitsuki looked at each other, eyes creased. And they knew what they were getting at, but after years of learned habits, it was just so much easier to overlook it and move on.

Their hearts were heavier but they swiftly moved back to where they were without another word, and Mitsuki tried to paint a smile on again as she was about to clear her throat, but she paused. Masaru bumped into her but Mitsuki brought a finger to her lips.

“Trust me, dude. I’m gonna hug my parents so hard when I get home that they’ll cry! I'll cry, too!” Kirishima cheered way too happily for the words, fist pumping and Katsuki watched him with an amused smile on his face, chin resting on his palm.

“Oh yeah? You're all gonna be ugly blubbering messes, I know /you’re/ gross when you cry.”

Kirishima tried to get offended but burst into giggles instead, and Masaru and Mitsuki looked at each other in amazement because holy hell,

that /was/ one of the happiest smiles they’d ever seen, and the laugh complimented it even more.

“Seriously, though, man. Thank you for…letting me come here before I go become an ugly blubbering mess. I’ll be able to man up and head off later…”

“Oi, oi, look at me,” Katsuki said, voice unwavering but…/caring/ as he tilted forward to get a look at Kirishima’s downcast face, and Kirishima did look at him. “So you didn’t tell them you were coming home. So what?

I know you’ve got your separation anxiety shit going down so you shouldn’t need to stay away for so long. And I know you told me they’re crazy busy now but you know and I know they’ll be so happy to see you so

when I send you off you’ll be having that dumb usual smile on your face, not this miserable thing you've got going now, won’t you?”

Kirishima smiled so gratefully as he murmured, “Thanks, man,” and raised a fist, and Katsuki rolled his eyes as he knocked his own against it.

His head turned then and he caught sight of his parents who seized up, expecting Katsuki to flip out - but they were wrong. Katsuki just nodded at them, straightening up before he flicked his head in Kirishima’s direction.

“Wanna greet the loser properly, folks?”

That was how handshakes and smiles were engaged, as well as Mitsuki and Masaru getting slightly starry-eyed by Kirishima’s oh-so-bright, “I’m Kirishima Eijirou, thank you for letting me into your house!”,

then his even brighter laughter at Katsuki saying in distaste, "You sound like you're some fucking stray.”

“Am I /your/ stray?”

Katsuki reached out as if he was about to scratch Kirishima under the chin, then he realised the others were here and he trudged away, grumbling something as Kirishima bounded after him and the other two just looked at each other in amazement.

“They’re in love.”

“Mitsuki.”

“I fucking CALL IT-”

“I need to cook the hot-pot.”

“Holy shit, get in the kitchen.”

-