Archive of Our Own ^beta

Izuku had a sleepless night. Another fight with Reo, another day of kneading the heck out of cinnamon rolls. Because it happened so often, they had become a bestseller, as well as a sign of his declining mental health.   

He used to think his life was perfect. He'd gotten the bakery he'd dreamed of by working hard to make a reality. He had an amazing partner that held him through all the stress and sacrifices it took to open his business. Someone who would help out around the house when Izuku's work days ended up being much longer than his. 

These days, unfortunately, it had been a while since Reo had cooked them a meal or even did the dishes before they crowded the sink. 

He used to be so thoughtful. 

"Again?" Ochako sighed, entering the kitchen and barely missing the cloud of flour. Izuku slammed the stiff dough onto the counter. He had come in earlier than he would on a normal day so he wasn’t expecting his best friend and business partner so soon. "You know we got all those mixers for a reason, right?"

They did. They were expensive too. But there was something about making something by hand that appealed to him—the only balm to his growing loneliness. 

"Didn't sleep," was all he could manage, though the evidence was clear on his face from the dark circles underneath his eyes. His job was strenuous and required a lot of attention, so he couldn't distract himself with conversation. He preferred it that way. It was the reason why Izuku would come in hours before her so he could avoid "the talk."

Ochako seemed to have some kind of sixth sense when it came to Izuku's woes.

"What happened this time?" 

No answer. 

"Let me guess, he left a bunch of food in the living room and let it rot because he fell asleep after gaming with his friends?"

That was last week.

When, once again, he didn't answer, she continued, "Did he leave the bathroom a complete mess and not clean up after himself?"

Thankfully that hadn't happened yet. 

"No? Hmmm," Ochako stared at him, watching his every movement for confirmation that she was correct. "Did he leave all the weekly chores for you to do at the end of the week while he went out with his rude friends?"  

Izuku slammed the dough with more force than was necessary, his breathing heavy and his brows tense. 

"Bingo. I win," she leaned on the counter, only a little smug for guessing correctly. Izuku knew she was on his side, but she'd never liked Reo. Izuku bringing his frustrations to work only solidified things.   

He didn't understand it. Reo had been super affectionate from the start, doting on him, and making Izuku feel like he was the most important person in the world. When Izuku was tired, he would massage him until his body melted under his partner's touch. And sometimes, if Izuku hadn't fallen asleep from the ministrations, they would have a little fun afterward.

Izuku couldn't remember the last time they'd had sex, or the last time Reo showered him with kisses when Izuku came home with his favorite dessert. It wasn't like Reo was spending more time away from home, but he might as well have been with the way he wouldn't cuddle on the couch when they watched TV. The man wouldn't even hold his hand on the rare occasion Izuku got to go out with Reo and his friends. 

He'd been feeling irrelevant​​—like he was more of a roommate than a romantic partner. But last night when he came home to none of the chores being crossed off, he felt more like a housekeeper. 

"I don't know what to do."

"Break up with him?"  

"I can't. I love him." Izuku used his rolled-up sleeve to try and catch the tears starting to fall from his eyes. 

Ochako crossed her arms, concern clear on her face from the frown lines that only seemed to show up when she talked about Reo. "Do you? I'm pretty sure you're gonna have to throw out this batch if you don't lighten up."  

Izuku loved his best friend, but she didn’t know his true feelings. If he didn’t love his partner, they wouldn’t have been together for as long as they had. Their fifth anniversary was in a few months and Izuku was hoping they’d take the next step, but he’d settle for a little more equity in their relationship. 

"I don't tell you how to grind your beans," he pouted. 

"But you would tell me if the person I was dating was a complete loser."  

"Himiko could never be."

"You're right,"Ochako smiled, "She respects me, and I her."  

"Reo does respect me."

"He respected you enough to leave you the chores that he wrote his name next to, knowing you'd do it if he waited."

Izuku dropped the dough, staring at her incredulously. "How did you—"

"Izuku, I've been to your house before. I've seen the list you keep next to the fridge."

Reo did write his name on there, and he did often neglect those chores. He had been for a while. Izuku didn't mind at first. The floor could go without vacuuming for a week, for instance, but it was the build-up of every single tasks being put off for weeks until Izuku couldn't ignore it any longer. 

Izuku tried to initiate some changes. He ordered Reo's favorite food, as he didn't have the space to cook, and attempted to bring it up to him nicely without the issue turning into an all-out brawl.

But it did, and not only did Izuku stay up late that night cleaning the messes his partner had left, he also didn't sleep because he didn't know where Reo had disappeared to. When he finally returned later, Izuku couldn't stand being in the same room as the one who dismissed his feelings so easily. 

Which was why his patrons were getting a special delicacy this week, courtesy of his strained relationship.  

"It was so bad, Ochako. My body ached but I couldn't live in that mess."

"And you shouldn't have to," Ochako's face softened as she looked him in the eye, only to harden again when she opened her mouth. "Get rid of him."

It wasn't the first time his best friend had made that suggestion, though it felt more like a demand; the words coming out with more force than someone so externally cheerful seemed capable of. Izuku knew better of course, and he loved her dark side... until it came to her opinions of his relationship.   

"I think I'll save a few of these. He was still angry from our fight when he came home and fell asleep on the couch. He loves my cinnamon rolls, so maybe we can have a productive conversation after I surprise him with treats."

"Is that why you only make cinnamon rolls when you're dealing with his shit?"

Izuku rolled his eyes, "No, but it does help."

"He doesn't deserve them."

"I know," Izuku sighed as he prepped the dough for proofing. His partner was being difficult at the moment, but he was easily buttered up by Izuku's baked goods. Maybe this was his ticket to getting through a difficult conversation unscathed. 

"He doesn't deserve you," Ochako muttered, leaving him alone in the kitchen. 

A part of Izuku's brain, albeit a very small portion, agreed with her. But he continued anyway, hoping that somehow he could end this rut between them. 

—

Izuku was exhausted. His assistant Sato had called in sick right before he was scheduled to come in. He sounded remorseful on the phone, saying he had the same illness one of the other employees had the week before and was still recovering from, but Izuku would rather he stay home instead of spread it. He'd avoided a potential outbreak, but that also meant he had to do the work of multiple people. Ochako tried to help where she could, but he guessed word had gotten out about his cinnamon rolls being the daily special as it was busier than usual, and she and Himiko were doing their best trying to keep the line going. 

They somehow survived the breakfast rush, managing to sit down for a bit once the mid-shift employees came in to take over. Izuku took out his phone, his anxiety spiking when he saw there were multiple unread messages from Reo.  

"He texted," Izuku stared at his phone with dread, "I don't know if I want to read it."

Ochako held out her hand with a sigh, "Give it to me."

His heart was beating out of his chest as he placed the phone in her waiting hand. 

"Izuku," Ochako started, and he flinched knowing that something was up if he wasn't calling him "Sweetie Pie" like he usually did. "First thing I want to say is, I'm sorry for the way I acted. It wasn't right for me to blow up on you when you were only trying to have a conversation with me. It was out of line and I apologize."

Okay, that wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be. By the sheer number of messages he'd left, Izuku was expecting the worst. 

"I feel terrible because I know I haven't been treating you the way I should. You deserve a lot better than that. Than me," Ochako raised a brow as she read it. "We can agree on that at least."

"Go on," Izuku was too anxious to sit through her commentary when there was probably a lot more to read through. He was hopeful, as the messages were starting off positive. 

"I realized I've been taking our relationship for granted. You've been so doting and loyal and I promise that I'll make more of an effort to deserve it."

Izuku was on the brink of tears. He felt so validated by Reo's words, and he had the strongest urge to go home early and kiss him until their lips went numb. 

"But..." Ochako trailed off. Her eyes were gradually getting wider as she read ahead. When she finally looked up at Izuku, she appeared as though she'd been shot. "I don't know if I should read this. I don't know if you should read this."

Izuku was getting impatient. He didn't believe it could be as bad as Ochako thought it was, not after the meaningful apology he'd just sent. 

"If you're not going to read it then give it back!" He went to reach for the phone, but Ochako held it close to her chest. 

"I'll do it. Just... don't be mad at me, okay? I'm only the messenger."

Izuku froze. Was it really that horrible? After a moment of thinking what could possibly come out of Ochako's mouth and failing, he nodded apprehensively. 

"The second thing I wanted to say, or rather ask, is would you consider losing a bit of weight? I don't want to come off sounding like an asshole, but it's something that's been on my mind for a while and I think it's why I've been acting the way I have. Subconsciously, I've been treating you worse because I'm not as attracted to you as I used to be."

Izuku didn't know how to respond. He couldn't respond. He'd struggled with his body image for years, and being in this relationship had helped him build his self confidence up. He wasn't thin when he'd met Reo, but it didn't seem to matter then. The guy asked him out knowing exactly what he looked like! Izuku was so happy to have someone who wanted him as he was. And yeah, that made him feel secure enough in the relationship that maybe he'd let himself go a little bit without knowing. Reo had never been brought up so he never thought about it. He felt great for his size, even if he weighed more than before. 

Knowing that the man he'd been living with for five years found him undesirable... everything started to make sense. The flyers for gym memberships left on the counter, receiving athletic wear as gifts for birthdays and holidays, their dates having more physical activities and less food—it was all in an effort to push Izuku in the right direction without having to tell him outright. 

He wondered how bad he must look for him to finally say something about it. 

Ochako's body was trembling but she continued, "I love you, Izuku. I love you so much. I wanted to be so supportive of your dream, but I didn't know at the time that you'd gain so much weight from testing out new recipes all the time. And while I still love your personality, I can't ignore that I'm not as sexually attracted to you as I used to be, and that's a really important thing for me. 

"I know I'm not as fit as I used to be either," Ochako let out a harsh laugh, "You got that right, buddy!"

"Ocha!"

"You're really going to make me read this out for you? This is ridiculous, Izuku. He's blaming his laziness on his lack of attraction to you! There's nothing wrong with you!"

"Except there is! He's right. I've gained a lot of weight since we started dating."

"You work harder than anyone I know. You're stronger than anyone I know. You're always on your feet. So what if you've gained a bit of weight! If someone you've been with for this long can't see past your appearance after gaining a few pounds, that's on him. That's his problem, not yours."

Izuku sighed. He wanted to believe her, but he had to hear him out first. He needed the whole story. "Give me back my phone, Ochako."

"You're just going to read the rest of his messages and continue to blame yourself, so no."

"Give it to me."

Ochako stared at his hand, and he could see the regret in the creases of her forehead as she returned it to him. 

Reo: I was thinking this could be something we work on together. When you come home, I could work with you on a diet plan and exercise routines. I'll even make all our meals so I can hold you accountable. As long as you don't eat anything else outside the diet, it shouldn't be much of a problem. And if you move your days off to coordinate with mine we can go to the gym together. I know you haven't been, so you need someone to show you the ropes, and I can do that for you. 

Izuku knew he should have started going to the gym ages ago, but he was too afraid to do it by himself. Plus, his job was already very labor intensive. He was constantly lifting and carrying heavy ingredient shipments. Not to mention the blood sweat and tears he put into making all the pastries he sold in the shop, on top of running around all day making sure Midori was running smoothly. 

Sure he was chubbier than he was before they got together, but he was stronger than his outward appearance might suggest and he knew it.

But that wasn't what mattered to Reo, was it?

"I don't know what to do."  

"Break up with him."

"It's not that simple, Ochako. We built a life together, and I can't just leave without hearing him out in person."

"I think you're just afraid because you got comfortable. Leaving him would be hard, but you've got me, and you can stay on my couch for as long as you need."

A couch. All his hard work and he'd be reduced to living on a couch until he could afford a place on his own. That didn't sound like much of a life at all.

"I can't," Izuku croaked, tears in his eyes, "I just can't. I'm sorry."

Izuku knew she'd never walk back on her own words, but she did show a hint of regret when she pulled him into a hug. "I know, honey. Himiko and I are always here if you need us, you know that right?"  

And as he hugged her tight, he knew that despite his stubbornness, they would.

—

Izuku walked out of Midori full of dread, a bag of cinnamon rolls and other pastries in hand. If they were going to do this, Izuku at least wanted to go out having tasted something good. His apartment wasn't a far walk from the café, which was a big deal for him. The streets were bustling with life and the rising rent every year made him aware just how desirable the area was. 

Could he even find a place nearby that would give him the freedom to walk to and from work with ease?  

He shook the thought away. He wasn't going to accept defeat yet. He didn't want to accept it at all, actually. Coming up to the front of his building, he put on his best brave face and opened the door. The ride up the elevator was torture, but he somehow found himself standing outside his and Reo's apartment. 

Unlocking the door took longer than usual due to his shaky hands, but he managed. Izuku tiptoed out of his shoes at the genkan when he noticed the familiar sounds of Reo's favorite game echoing down the hall, along with the sound of his seemingly one-sided banter. He wouldn't be able to hear that Izuku had just gotten home. If he wanted to, he could stay in the entryway for hours and Reo would be none the wiser. He was the type to play all day if he had nothing else to do and it was his sole focus. But Izuku wanted to get it over with; rip off the bandage so to say. If things were going to get better between the two of them, he needed to start right away. 

So he exaggerated each step, wondering if he would have to announce himself or if Reo would hear him from over his friends' talking. The head of dark, wavy hair turned as he approached, and Reo looked over his shoulder with a blank stare. "Hey," he called out. 

It was almost as if he hadn't sent Izuku a long stream of texts that very morning. 

"Hey babe," Izuku answered sheepishly. He stood behind the couch, waiting for something to happen. They needed to talk about what happened earlier, whether either of them wanted to or not. 

"Gotta go, Izuku's here," Reo took off his headset and put down the controller. With a sigh, he got up from his seat, stretching like he hadn't moved for hours. 

What Izuku wouldn't give for an afternoon like that. 

"I-I brought home some cinnamon rolls. I know how much you love them," he held up the bag and Reo just stared. He held it out for him to take, and eventually his partner took it from him. 

There was no smile or indication that he was excited at all, but he walked to the kitchen. But rather than getting a plate or at least a fork, Reo dropped the bag in the trash. 

"What are you doing?!"

Izuku felt rather insulted. He'd worked hard to make those, and his partner so carelessly threw them away without even looking inside!

There was a slight twitch on the edge of Reo's mouth, "It's what's best for both of us, Izuku." 

They'd barely spoken and Izuku was about to cry already. He clenched his fists inside the pockets of his overalls. "I thought..."

"Didn't you read my text?"

"Y-yeah I did, I just thought maybe—"

"If we're going to make this work, we need to start as soon as possible. That means no more sweets."

"Not even for you?" Izuku didn't understand why Reo had to throw out perfectly good food. If he had known what was going to happen, he would have given them to someone who might have genuinely appreciated it. Unfortunately it appeared that food would go to no one, as he stared at the top of the bag as it stuck out from the top of the bin, which was surprisingly not overflowing with trash. 

Reo shook his head. "I wouldn't be able to eat them all, and that would give you the opportunity to finish them off. We can't have that."

"This is all too much to comprehend. I don't know why this is all happening now," a traitorous tear fell from the corner of his eye despite him trying to maintain his composure, "You've been unhappy with me, but why couldn't you just tell me what was wrong before it came to this?"

Reo's dark brown eyes darted everywhere around Izuku, refusing to meet his gaze. "I tried to get over the fact that I wasn't attracted to you. I thought maybe I needed to adjust to how you look now and it would be fine. But every time I look at you or think about you, it makes me angry."

...Angry?

Izuku's appearance provoked anger in the person who was supposed to love him unconditionally?

"I've been so pent up, but you were never really home, and when you were, I would look at you and I wasn't happy with what I saw."

"So you stopped cleaning up after yourself?"

"It was the only way I felt like you were contributing something good to our relationship."

Wow. Izuku already knew that Reo's lack of attraction to his current body was at least partially to blame for shirking his responsibilities at home, but this felt like a punch to the gut. 

"I'm sorry," Reo looked at him for the first time since he'd thrown out the pastries. "It was unfair to you, and I honestly don't know why I did it. That's why I want to fix it. Fix us." He stepped forward, reaching for Izuku's hand, but settled for stroking his arm when his fists stayed firmly in his pockets. 

"Is that why you've been going out instead of spending time with me?"

"I needed some kind of distraction, so yeah."

"Why didn't you invite me?" It was a fair question, because he had no idea what Reo did once he left their apartment. He never told him, and Izuku was afraid to ask. It would be nice to be included from time to time. 

"I don't know. I wanted to party and meet new people, is that so bad? I get to hear about all the fun Yo is having and I get so... so jealous! You're always too tired to go out anyway. You can't blame me for wanting to have a little fun."

"Reo, it's okay for your brother to go out every night. He's single and doesn't want to settle down yet."

"I know," Reo stared back at him and the seriousness of his tone chilled Izuku to the bone. He didn't say any more, but Izuku could almost hear the 'but I could be too,' running through Reo's mind. His partner of five years had gotten to the point where he was considering what his life could be like if he were single again. "I never did anything that would ruin our relationship, but it helped me figure out what I really wanted."

So Reo was going out and meeting new people, but somehow wasn't flirting with them? Or maybe he was flirting with them but somehow didn't cheat on him, emotionally or otherwise? None of it made sense. 

Izuku simultaneously felt like he should run out the door and never come back and beg on his knees for Reo's forgiveness. What he should have done was the former, but what really happened was closer to the latter. 

"And what is that? What do you want from me?" he pleaded, not on his knees, but staring up into his partner's cold stare with tears in his eyes.

"I want us to work on ourselves and our life together. I want to go out and be able to have you on my arm looking like a billion yen. I want to see the jealousy on my friends' faces when they see us together."

Was that why they never went out with his friends anymore? Reo had always left him at home when they hung out, and Izuku never minded because they were more Reo's friends than his. Plus he was exhausted most days and almost liked the peace and quiet that came with Reo's absence. 

"If I lose weight will you be happy?" The words stumbled out through wobbling lips. 

"Yes," Reo hugged Izuku tight, "I want the beautiful boy I fell in love with back."

Izuku hugged him back, hoping things would all work out. 

Izuku knew he agreed to go along with whatever Reo believed would get him back to the body he had when they first started dating, but he didn't realize how soul-crushing it would feel. 

He'd only been at it for two weeks but he was struggling. The meals were so lacking that Izuku almost felt hungrier after eating than he had before. There was no way a nutritionist would have approved of those portions. He was always hungry, and it didn't help that making food was literally his career. Nevertheless, he refused to deviate—his mindset for his diet, like his relationship, wouldn't allow him to stray. 

Reo had him keeping a food diary to hold him accountable. Izuku was to write what he ate and when to make sure he was eating his designated meals at the right time and staying on top of the diet plan. Technically, he wasn't allowed to eat anything that Reo didn't make for him, but that wasn't feasible with his job so Reo encouraged him to record it and try to calculate how many calories he was taking in. 

It felt like a bit much, especially when Reo would go through it so he could adjust his new fitness routine to accommodate his caloric intake. 

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if he was seeing results, but Izuku hadn't seen any improvement at this point. Even though Reo said it was all a part of the process, he knew his partner was also upset that the scale was barely fluctuating. 

Izuku also needed new clothes because he'd been feeling uncomfortable in his older stuff, being that it didn't fit as well as it used to. He'd just received an order he was absolutely excited about—a size-inclusive brand in the UK had different styles of overalls, which were quickly becoming his entire wardrobe. 

He was in the middle of trying on a stretchy jade-colored pair with a waffle texture when Reo walked in. Izuku thought they looked great, and he loved how the versatile wide-leg pants could either be flowy or tied up at the bottom. He smiled at Reo through the mirror, but his partner didn't smile back. In fact, he looked furious. 

"I thought we were working towards fitting into your old clothes," he remarked as he eyed Izuku up and down through the mirror's reflection. 

"I am, but I still need things to wear now."

Reo rolled his eyes. "You're not going to change anything with that attitude."

Izuku turned around to face him. He was at a loss of what to do, because even though he was doing everything Reo asked, nothing had truly changed between them. "What am I supposed to do then?"

"I'm sure you can still wear some of your old clothes," His partner started going through Izuku's side of their shared closet, pulling out things Izuku hadn't worn in ages. "They might be a bit tight, but it's only until you work a few inches off."

"I don't understand your obsession with my old clothes."

"You know what? This is why I'm not attracted to you like I used to be. You changed the way you dress, and the way these clothes hang on your body makes me want to gag." Reo pulled on his new overalls, the fabric stretching underneath his grip. "It's not cute or sexy, it's plain. This is too stretchy and the clothes are wearing you more than the other way around. There's no structure at all and you just look like a blob."

A blob. That was what he was to Reo. 

Izuku had to adjust to a lot of things with his changing body. One was finding clothes that fit in his style, though he often had to compromise for the sake of fit. And sometimes his clothes didn't fit because he had to buy them online and guess what size he'd be off a generic size chart. He'd receive things like the pair of overalls he had on, which were so oversized to the point where he could fit both his arms into them while it was on. Despite everything, he genuinely liked that about the clothes, as they would allow him to move around freely and not feel self conscious about too-tight fabric that clung to all his insecure areas. 

Reo didn't feel the same. 

"I like these though," Izuku ran his hands over the textured fabric. He didn't want Reo to hate his new clothes, especially because he had a few pairs in similar styles still sitting in the package. 

"Fine, keep them. But please, can you at least try wearing some of your older clothes for me?" Reo grabbed his hand, massaging it. As Izuku looked up at the man smiling down at him so softly, he knew he could never refuse this simple request. 

—

Three months later and Izuku wished the scale was lying. 

Months of almost starving himself and constant exercising and Izuku was only down six pounds. He'd never felt weaker in his life, nor did he have the energy or the will to live. He only appeared slightly thinner, though he had a theory it was lost muscle mass. 

On top of all that, Reo's attraction toward him hadn't seemed to shift at all. Izuku had tried to initiate any kind of intimacy with the man, but kisses were few and far between, and the ones he received felt forced. His partner rarely called him cute pet names like he used to, and it felt as if there were an invisible line between them at all times. 

The only benefit from this endeavor was that Reo started pulling his weight when it came to household chores in the beginning. Izuku offered to take on a little more responsibility since Reo still prepared meals for them, but he no longer put as much effort into it as he had from the start. Izuku noticed portions getting smaller, the dishes were bland, and Reo stopped providing less options for snacks throughout the day. 

Whenever Izuku indulged in anything outside of his diet, dutifully writing it down and estimating the calorie count, Reo would give him the silent treatment for days. He claimed that since he was able to make the same sacrifices and manage to lose weight that Izuku was doing something wrong. He'd accused Izuku of consuming more than he disclosed in his food diary and nothing Izuku could say would convince him otherwise. The only thing he could do to get back into his good graces again was push himself even harder at the gym to make up for it. 

It was safe to say Izuku was downright miserable. He had no idea how anyone could endure diets long term. 

He missed real food. He longed for the taste of sweet treats, or at least food that was properly seasoned. Ochako tried to get him to cave, going as far as getting his mom's katsudon recipe and eating it in front of him. However, his best friend severely underestimated how stubborn he could be when he pursued something. He just kept telling himself that someday it would all be worth it. 

That is, until he almost fainted after lifting a single sack of flour. Luckily, Sato had been there to help him up and take over while he supervised, but Izuku's body wouldn't stop trembling. 

"Maybe you should eat something," Sato looked him over as he handed him a glass of cold water. 

Izuku struggled to bring the glass to his lips with his shaky grip. "I already ate my lunch and I can't eat anymore. I promised I would give it my all."

"While I find your dedication inspiring, you won't make it through the rest of the day if you keep going." Sato rummaged through the employee fridge until he found what he was looking for. "I couldn't finish it because it was too spicy for my tastes, and maybe this isn't the greatest thing to eat on an empty stomach, but it's better than nothing."

Izuku knew better than to refuse. He'd feel awful if any of his employees had to call for an ambulance because he literally fainted. 

He opened the container, spotting an array of colorful vegetables with slices of chicken sitting on top of a bed of noodles. It smelled heavenly. Sato handed him some utensils and Izuku immediately dug in. 

It took a few bites before he could even register the taste because he couldn't help but scarf it down, but the tingle of spice tickled the back of his throat; a reminder for him to slow down. 

"There's no rush. You'll make yourself sick if you eat too fast."

"I know," Izuku replied. His mouth was full, and he no doubt looked like a chipmunk with his cheeks all puffed out. 

He gulped down the food in his mouth and Sato handed him a bottle of juice. It was so satisfying having a sweet drink to wash down the spicy food, even though it didn't do anything to quell the burning sensation. Izuku never had the highest tolerance for spicy food, but he wasn't weak by any means. Not like people who couldn't handle it weren't, but, it was just nice to have something with flavor, even if it made his nose run. He'd been consuming unseasoned protein and water for so long that he'd forgotten what good food tasted like. Any "treat" Reo allowed him tasted like chalk more than chocolate or whatever flavor it said on the package, and every cheat meal he allowed had been altered so that most of the ingredients that made the dish good were missing. 

This noodle dish was his new favorite food. It was. He knew he was exaggerating a bit because he would probably change his mind once he had his mom's katsudon again, but at this moment it was his absolute favorite thing in the whole world and he needed more. 

"Where did you get this? It's so good!" Izuku hummed as he savored the last few bites, the dopiest grin on his face. 

Sato stared at him for a moment, almost like he was questioning Izuku's mental state. "Uh... Dyna-something. I don't remember the name, but it's down the street next to the flower shop. You can't miss it."

Izuku smiled. He couldn't wait to try this place out for himself. 

—

All Izuku could think about was that spicy food Sato had given him. Though the guilt of not telling Reo that he had cheated on his diet was enough to keep him from indulging in it again, after another week of torture, Izuku was starting to feel weak again. One meal couldn't hurt, and he told himself that he would scour the menu to find the healthiest option. Reo would never know. It wasn't like he was following Izuku's every move to make sure he wasn't cheating on his diet. His partner was strict, but not that strict. 

Things at Midori were rather slow and Sato practically ushered him out early, assuring him that he had everything handled. Reo wouldn't expect him to be home for another two hours, so Izuku found himself taking a stroll in the opposite direction of his apartment. He hadn't heard any news of this new restaurant opening, but he'd also been so preoccupied with a million other things. Any neighborhood news just wouldn't have been on his radar. All he could recall was that the space had been bought out after almost a year of sitting vacant, but that was months ago. 

He was sad that the udon shop that previously existed there closed. The couple who owned and ran it decided they were too old to keep it going and went to retire in the countryside. He was devastated when they closed the doors for good, but he was happy for them. And from what he'd tasted so far, he knew that the old couple would approve of the new owner. 

Izuku waved to the owner of the flower shop as he passed. He and Ibara Shiozaki had a wonderful working relationship, and she would often surprise him with the beautiful arrangements he ordered for Midori. 

"What brings you here, Midoriya?" She asked as she picked up the last two plants from her outdoor display—vibrant orange snapdragons with a pink gradient on the petals. They reminded him of a sunset, and he considered coming back another day and buying some to liven up his rather plain office at the café, even if they didn't go with his All Might figures. 

"I didn't know the restaurant next door was open until Sato brought something over. Thought I'd try it myself. Have you been?"

Shiozaki turned up her nose as she side-eyed the storefront next to her, "I haven't yet, but the owner can be quite loud. He's almost scared off a few of my customers with his yelling on the other side of our shared wall. That and he barely acknowledges me when we cross paths."

If Izuku hadn't already had a taste of the man's dishes, he might have reconsidered trying it after hearing this. However, a few of the shop owners on the street didn't take to Shiozaki easily when she first opened her business. She was stoic and sometimes gave off a holier-than-thou attitude when she spoke. But after a while, everyone started to see her kindness show through her work and appreciated her earnestness, as well as her amazing talent for creating meaningful bouquets. 

If given time and the opportunity to get to know this new owner, he was sure Shiozaki would come around.

"It's stressful opening up a business. I was unbearable sometimes with how agitated I got. Ochako had to remind me to breathe half the time."

"I have a hard time imagining you yelling at people," she chuckled. With another glance at the restaurant next door, she sighed, "You are right though. I was irritable and lost quite a bit of weight when I first opened the shop, worrying that I wouldn't have enough customers to stay open longer than six months."

Izuku gave her body a once over. Shiozaki was absolutely gorgeous. Like him, she also had emerald tresses, but her waves trailed like vines down her voluptuous figure. It was almost unfair how perfectly proportioned she was, though she dressed modestly and never flaunted her assets in the way he knew she could. Izuku was jealous that she was able to lose weight so easily, even if it wasn't wanted or needed. 

"I think I gained some," he hugged his arms tight around his body, as if to protect himself from any negative comment she might make, even though she wouldn't. Shiozaki was too kind to judge appearances. 

"No matter," she smiled, "It is a wonderful thing to have a body that allows you to do the things you love, isn't it? It's a privilege I don't take lightly."

He nodded, because she was right. He accomplished so much in this body, so he should be proud of that. But he couldn't get Reo's comments out of his head. They haunted him constantly, to the point where Izuku had to find things to distract him when life was too quiet, otherwise he'd dwell on every little flaw in their relationship. 

"I have to finish closing up, but I do hope you enjoy your meal," Shiozaki shifted the potted plants in her arms so she could open the door. 

"Thanks! I'll see you later," he waved his goodbyes and made his way next door. 

The exterior of the building looked the same as it always had. The new owner must have appreciated the look of natural oak enough not to paint or alter it like many of the other stores on the block did. The only huge difference between the udon shop and this one was that the owner had taken down the blinds that filtered the afternoon light shining through the large windows. A metal sign hung from the overhang by the door with 'Dynamight' in a bold font. It was a peculiar spelling but accurate, as the spice level of the dish he'd tried would be explosive to the average palate. 

A bell rang when he opened the door, and there was a podium just inside but no one was around to seat him. He waited around for a moment, looking around for any sign of life, before he noticed a small sheet of paper taped to the wall saying, "Seat yourself."

Huh. The owner must be short staffed at the moment. He and Ochako had a similar predicament when they opened Midori, and her girlfriend stepped in to help. She's worked there part-time ever since. 

Izuku chose a table by one of the front windows, sitting in the chair tucked into the corner. Dynamight was relatively empty, probably because it was too late for lunch but too early for dinner. Only a few tables had guests, making their chatter echo. Maybe he should have asked someone to come with him so he didn't stand out as a loner. The place didn't have any stalls or single seats available, so Izuku tried to take up as little space as he could. 

The interior of the restaurant was simple. Solid wooden booths matching the exterior were arranged neatly in the main dining room, while chrome seats framed smaller, square tables near the front windows, matching the industrial elements of the slatted half wall separating the main room from an elevated platform. The afternoon light filtered in through tinted windows, bringing warmth to the black walls surrounding him and providing sunlight for some appropriately placed plants. 

Izuku thought it was nice overall, though a little less homey than the udon shop before. He thought there was something missing from the atmosphere that could be remedied by some photographs or art on the walls, but whoever designed the space knew how to maximize it without feeling crowded, something that took a while for him to master in his quaint little café.

Izuku realized he had spaced out when a menu slammed on the table, startling him. His head snapped up, meeting the fiery gaze of an angry looking blonde. 

"What do you want to drink?" he asked. He looked more than annoyed, his hand on his hip as his red eyes bore into Izuku's. 

There was giggling on the other side of the half wall, partially obscured by the metal fence and a large ruby red ficus. The two of them looked over, and Izuku could see two vague human-like shapes sitting too close together in one of the booths. The smacking sounds indicated that they had moved on from the giggles and were probably making out. 

"Fucking gross," the blonde sighed, rolling his eyes. He looked down at Izuku once more, though he wasn't as annoyed as before. 

He was cute. Really cute, actually. Izuku had to shake away the thought, as he was in a committed relationship! It was totally true though. His wide shoulders, trim waist and towering figure... 

Okay, Izuku was just torturing himself imagining that man ordering him around with his gruff voice. He put the menu up as a barrier to hide how flustered he was. "Uhh," he started, trying to read over the menu quickly to find where the drink options were. When he couldn't find it within five seconds, he just blurted out, "Tea?"

"Sure," the employee turned around without another word, giving Izuku the opportunity to breathe. 

He'd interacted with other conventionally handsome men recently, but maybe it was the malnourishment and the lack of intimacy in his life that was causing his mind and body to overreact to this particular attractive man. Reo was leagues more his type, and they had an extensive history together, so even if he knew this man he wouldn't compare. Once Reo started warming up to him again he'd become blind to the appearances of beautiful people once more. Izuku was nothing if not dutiful to a fault in his relationships. 

A subtle moan coming from the couple in the back made him feel uncomfortable. And sad. The fact of the matter was, Reo wasn't changing his attitude toward Izuku at all. Even with all the effort, he hadn't been able to lose much weight, and therefore his partner was still unhappy. He still encouraged Izuku to keep going like the fat would just magically melt off one day and they'd run off into the sunset together, but it wasn't realistic. He was losing hope that they'd be able to go back to the way they used to be. 

He was suddenly jealous of the people on the other side of the wall. They were so in love that they didn't care how public they were with their affection. It had been years since Reo was like that for him, and the drought of even the most simple of romantic gestures was getting to him. 

The waiter came back with a glass of tea and placed it on the table. He looked at Izuku expectantly, and he realized he was too distracted by the couple to read the menu. 

"You ready?" he asked. His eyes flickered from Izuku to the menu, prompting him to actually look at it. 

It was a fusion of different cuisines, all of them advertising various degrees of spice, but some items allowed customers to customize their meal by choosing a level of heat. Izuku thought it would be safer if he was in control, rather than risk getting a dish that would burn his taste buds to the point of never being able to enjoy food ever again, even after his and Reo's diet ended. He scanned the list and found something he knew he'd enjoy. 

"What level do you recommend for the Katsudon?"

The man looked him over with a smirk, "For you? Probably a one."

Izuku was almost offended that this guy thought he'd be weak to spice. "I'll have you know one of my employees ordered the yakisoba and thought it was too hot for him. He gave it to me and I thought it was just fine."

"Oh really?" Izuku received another devilishly handsome smile, making his stomach flip. It had been a while since a man had looked at him with any kind of interest in his eyes—platonic or otherwise—and he was slightly uncomfortable. "Look, why don't you go with a two. Anything higher than that is really just for losers to prove to their friends that they did some stupid shit and survived. Most people can't even taste the food, they just feel the burn."

That sounded like a challenge to him. Though he knew realistically he probably wouldn't be able to handle levels four and five, he confidently settled on, "Three, please."

"Okay, spitfire," The man in front of him shook his head in disbelief, but wrote it down anyway. "If you're sure."

"Very."

Izuku narrowed his eyes, ready to step up to the employee's challenge. He didn't quite understand why though, as the guy taking his order wasn't the one who was making the food, nor was he the one who came up with the ideas. He was just a mere server, and yet Izuku felt the need to prove that he was stronger than he looked. 

"Over here please!" A woman's voice traveled from the booth with the excessive PDA. 

"Katsudon, spice level three. Got it," the blonde man said, his face shifting back into a scowl as he spun around to check on the couple. "What now?" he growled. 

"My mouth is burning! These dishes are too hot!" the woman whined. 

So it seemed like the couple was being problematic in more ways than one. 

"Did you read the menu at all? If you did, you would know that the mapo tofu is fucking hot!" He could only make out the server's blonde spikes from where he was at, but he imagined that the man had his arms crossed based on how agitated his voice sounded. 

"You could have warned us about it! How are we supposed to know what three spiky balls means?"

Izuku froze. That voice sounded very familiar to him.

It couldn't be. 

No, it wasn't—

"They're explosions." The restaurant employee replied flatly, though irritation was clear in his gravelly tone. 

"Whatever," the woman with the guy who was not his partner said. He could hear the sliding of plates across the table. "Be a doll and take these back to the kitchen. We'd like the same dishes, just less hot. Thanks."

Izuku hoped the poor guy was getting paid enough to deal with such rude customers. He tried to peek through the slats as the man picked up the plates. He was already filled with dread, refusing to believe that the person who sounded like he was shoving his tongue down a woman's throat was his partner. It just wasn't. 

All his fears were confirmed when the hot blonde's shoulder collided with the plant obscuring the man's face from his view, and he spotted what looked like familiar dark waves. It was undeniable when the man's eyes peeked through the slats as they followed the employee's movements. Izuku threw up his menu before those eyes could land on him. 

His heart was beating out of his chest. Reo was here. He was with a woman, and they were clearly more than friends. 

Reo was cheating on him. He was cheating on him and he was cheating on the diet he was supposedly following. He wasn't waiting for Izuku to shed some weight in order to shower him with affection, he was just torturing him with fewer calories than was healthy while he went and ate whatever he wanted with the person he was truly attracted to. 

Tears started forming in his eyes. How could someone be so cruel?

"He's gone. Let's go before he comes back!" Reo whispered loud enough for him to hear, and the two of them rose from the booth, snickering as they started toward the door. Izuku ducked down behind his menu to further shield himself from discovery, but Reo never even looked in his direction as he ran with a petite, skinny woman with emerald green tresses. 

Tears ran freely down his cheeks, pooling on the table below. Meanwhile the front door slammed close, the ringing bell taunting any of the restaurant patrons who were witnessing a dine and dash in real time. 

The server ran out of the kitchen, turning toward the now empty booth. "Fuck!" he yelled, and Izuku almost jumped out of his seat. 

"I'm so sorry," he sobbed, abandoning his menu disguise as he turned toward the employee. 

"What?" he looked at Izuku confused. 

"I'll p-pay," Izuku went to grab his wallet but stopped when a firm hand grabbed his shoulder. 

"They ran out. How is that your fault?"

"That guy, R-Reo, is m-my partner." 

He could see as the server started putting things together. Obviously if he was that close with another woman, Reo was—

"Cheating bastard," the man growled again, stomping toward the kitchen once more. He returned moments after with two glasses of beer and sat down across from Izuku. He slid one toward him and took a sip from the other glass. "You're not paying for shit, you hear me?"

"But what about—"

"Don't worry about it. I happen to be on good terms with the owner. He'll understand," the blonde winked, taking another sip of beer. "Don't worry about that asshole either. You deserve way better."

"You don't even know me," Izuku took a sip of the beer, cringing at the bitterness hitting his tongue. It had been a while since he last had a drink, which meant he was most likely a lightweight at this point. 

"Not a fan of beer?"

"It's fine. I'm just not used to drinking anymore and doing it on an empty stomach is probably going to mess me up."

"Oh shit," the man stood up abruptly, ignoring his beer as he strode back into the kitchen. 

Izuku sat there in shock. He didn't know what to do with all of this. He was being cheated on, and all the hard work he'd put into making his relationship work was for nothing. Just a distraction so Reo could make out with people behind his back without suspicion. And now he was sitting in this restaurant and a stranger gave him a beer out of pity.

It was all so surreal... mostly the cheating part. 

He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there when a bowl of steaming hot katsudon was placed in front of him. By then, he'd pretty much lost his appetite. He tried to push the heavenly smelling dish toward the man who was possibly ignoring other guests in an attempt to comfort him. 

"No no no no no, I did not bring this out for you to not eat it," he said, pushing the katsudon back in Izuku's direction. "It'll make you feel better, even if you feel it'll do the opposite."

"I'm going to throw up."

"You're not."

"I'm not in any state to—"

"What color is your underwear?"

What? What kind of question was that?!

"Huh?!"

"I said, what color is your underwear? You don't look like someone who wears regular black briefs. You seem like the type who wears nerdy or cute pop culture shit."

Of all the ways he could have imagined his day to have gone, having someone deduce what kind of undergarments he was wearing was not on the list.

"I do not!" He crossed his arms, turning away so the blonde couldn't see straight through his lie. The guy wasn't wrong. He wore a lot of All Might, but on this particular day he was wearing broccoli with various cutesy faces on them. It helped brighten his mood with the whole diet thing!

"You totally do," smirking red eyes stared back at him, and he knew he should accept defeat. "It's fine. I do too sometimes."

That was a surprise. Izuku would've pegged him for the hypermasculine type. The kind of guy who, like he mentioned, wore black briefs. Something form-fitting to hug whatever he was hiding beneath those baggy black jeans. 

"You-you do?" He gulped, daring himself not to imagine what he would look like wearing any type of underwear. Or none at all. Nope, he had to get these impure thoughts out of his depressed mind. 

"I do. Not all the time, though. My friends got me a pack of All Might boxers as a gag gift. They thought I wouldn't be caught dead wearing them, but I do. I'm not gonna let perfectly good clothes go to waste."

That was actually really sweet. More information than he needed to know about a stranger's life, but sweet. 

"You like All Might?" Izuku's face brightened because All Might was pretty much his entire childhood. He loved the character more than he'd care to admit to anyone, even Reo. 

His heart sank, knowing that Reo didn't care about him enough to understand his interests. That should have been red flag number one.

"All Might was the best. I probably own every volume in the series."

He did too! Though most of his stuff was in storage or at his mom's, he had a ton of limited edition merch!

"Me too," he restrained his smile a bit, trying not to revert to his fanboy nature at the risk of seeming uncool. 

"Figured. Betcha know all the lore and shit."

He did!

Izuku could feel his cheeks heating up. "I do..." he trailed off. He'd talk the man's ear off if he had the chance, but he had a job to do and his boss wouldn't appreciate him taking up all his time. 

He appeared to have understood, as he stood up. "You eat this while I go check on everyone else. If no one else shows up we can talk about it, if ya want."

Izuku nodded. Oh boy, did he want to talk about his hyperfixations with someone—anyone. And to have this attractive man in front of him interested in the same thing? Absolute heaven. 

"Cool. Name's Katsuki."

"Izuku Midoriya. I own a café down the street called Midori. Nice to meet you!"

"Likewise," the man—Katsuki—flashed a smile and turned away, leaving Izuku alone to deal with the raging blush on his face. 

His stomach grumbled as soon as he was left to his own devices. The conversation he'd just had was a little unorthodox to say the least, but it was a surprisingly good deflection tactic. It distracted him long enough to realize that he was indeed hungry—hence, the reason he had come to Dynamight in the first place. 

Steam was still rolling off his katsudon and he took in the amazing scent of the spiced, breaded pork on top of a bed of rice and egg. There was a small bowl with sauce on the side, which was probably the level three he'd ordered. If Katsuki had asked for the sauce on the side because of his empty stomach, he was grateful for that because digging in, the milder version of the katsudon was perfect. Possibly even better than his mom's, though he'd never admit it out loud. 

It was hard to stop eating as soon as that first mouthful went down his throat. It was so warm and tasty, and filling. God, Izuku couldn't recall the last time he'd eaten enough to feel satisfied. He deserved it. More than that, he needed strength for what he was about to do. 

Part of him didn't want Reo to be home when he got there. If he hurried, Reo might still be preoccupied with the woman he ran out of the restaurant with. Izuku could simply pack up as much as he could, leave him a note saying he knew what Reo was doing behind his back, and find a new place to stay. Like Ochako had said before, her couch was available for rent. 

His mom's place was probably the better option, at least to store his things. Ochako's apartment was too small to accommodate his entire life, but it was a third of the commute from the place he grew up. 

Maybe going home was what he needed, though. His mom was comforting, and would hug him close and cry with him until they both fell asleep in a cuddle pile. Izuku needed a hug more than anything. 

It would be best if she knew he was coming, especially as it wasn't going to be a short visit.

Izuku's hands shook as he went through his contacts. It had been a while since he'd talked to her, probably well before Reo sent him that long text asking him to lose weight in order to earn his love back. He felt so stupid! If he'd followed Ochako's advice and just left him then, it would have saved him a lot of pain, both physically and emotionally. Ochako was probably going to grill him for not listening to her when she found out. 

The phone rang twice before he heard his mom's soothing voice. "Hello? Izuku, baby, it's been a while. How are you?" She sounded so excited to get this call, and Izuku almost didn't want to tell her right away. 

Unfortunately the tears spoke for him. "H-hi mom."

"Are you okay? Is everything alright at the cafe?"

The way she never even suspected his relationship was the source of his pain hurt, but then he remembered that she only met Reo a few times, and he went out of his way to put on the charm for her. He would later tell Izuku that his mother was a little overbearing, and Izuku wondered why he never considered that another red flag at the time. 

"I can't speak long because I'm out in public, but can I move home?"

There was a pause on the other end, but he knew it was an odd and very loaded request. "Of course! Are you in danger? Do I need to come get you?"

At least he didn't have to convince his mother to shelter him after what was likely to be another blowout fight. "I'm okay physically," he started before the sobs came back, "R-Reo is cheating on me. I j-just saw him."

Izuku tried to keep it down because there were still other people in the restaurant. They'd already witnessed one scene, Izuku didn't want to create another one. 

"Baby, I'm so sorry!" She cooed, "I'll come get you now!"

If she was lucky she'd be there within the hour, but traffic usually picked up around this time so who knew how much time it would add to her commute. That would probably be better anyway, as that gave him more time to confront Reo without his mother getting involved. She didn't need to see what was about to happen. 

"Okay," he breathed. He had his head in his hand, the katsudon in front of him all but forgotten. 

She hung up, and he decided to text Ochako. She'd probably call him when she read the text, but he wasn't in the right headspace for her response.

Finishing the katsudon felt more like a chore when his despair settled in his stomach like a sack of flour, but he managed it with the help of the beer Katsuki had given him. Katsuki, whom he hadn't seen since he'd left the table. 

Like he anticipated, his phone was blowing up with calls from Ochako. Even Himiko had joined in, interrogating him and asking if he needed someone with a very special set of skills. Both of them would probably kill Reo if he asked, but that wasn't something he wanted on any of their consciences. He downed the rest of the beer, trying to calm down. He'd answer them when he was on his way home. 

As he set the empty glass on the table, he felt a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up, Katsuki was there. "You need another one?" He asked, picking up the empty glass. 

"I wish," Izuku sighed. He really did wish that he could stay and chat over another beer, but there were people waiting for him and a whole life that needed to be packed away. "I actually need to go... you know, to deal with... all that."

"Yeah, I don't envy you there," the man stood there, one finger tapping the glass as he gazed down at Izuku. It seemed like there was something else he wanted to say, but couldn't get it out. 

"Uh, where can I pay?"

"I told ya, it's on the house."

"But I thought—"

"Don't worry about it. Someone else offered to cover it anyway. Get out," Izuku felt a light tap on his back and Katsuki gestured toward the door. "Go give him hell, and tell him he's banned from this place."

He walked away, leaving Izuku there with a gaping mouth, and he almost forgot Shiozaki's not-so-stellar review of the restaurant owner. He never expected such kindness while being distressed in public, and the owner at the very least had good judgement when hiring employees. He wished there was something he could do for this man. Maybe he could call the owner and tell him to give Katsuki a raise. He deserved it. 

In the end, Izuku left his business card with a note telling him to visit soon so he can return the favor, and left the restaurant as a large group started filing in. His phone buzzed, and Izuku looked down, expecting a text from Himiko, Ochako, or even his mom. But it wasn't. It was from Reo. 

Reo: Went to the store because I thought you deserved a treat for working so hard. Can't wait to see you ❤️

Seriously?

Izuku almost couldn't believe it. The man who had been all over some random woman not too long ago was going to "treat" him? More like try to hide his guilt, if he felt any at all. He scoffed, replying to his friends' texts. They were getting more and more threatening the longer he scrolled. Izuku needed to diffuse some of their anger or they might indeed convince him to commit a crime. 

Turning on his angsty playlist was the only thing that kept him from falling apart before he got to the apartment. It helped him walk with purpose as he made the short commute. By the time he stepped up to the building, a familiar car had already parked outside. Two angry women sat inside, staring him down. He approached and the door opened. 

It was then that Izuku realized he didn't have much of a plan. 

"What do I do?" He lightly bonked his head on the car door. Himiko stepped out and pulled him into a hug. Ochako got out on the other side and followed suit. 

"We'll be right behind you, ready to grab your things," she squeezed him tighter. 

"I'm armed, so if he even tries to lay a hand on you—"

"Himiko, no!" Izuku pulled away. "It won't be necessary."

"If anything, you need backup," Ochako chimed in. 

"My mom's on her way too. I'm staying with her."

They both nodded and followed him into the building. His friends stayed at the door as he opened it hesitantly. 

"Oh Sweetie Pie, you're home," Reo's voice rang from the kitchen. 

Izuku remembered when that nickname made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Now, it just sounded gross and insincere. 

He took slow steps down the hall. He hadn't thought out what he was going to say, and it was for the worst. As he approached the entryway to the kitchen, he froze. 

"I got a recipe from one of my gym friends for some diet-friendly desserts. They helped me shop for the ingredients and I was hoping you'd be home late so they'd be finished by the time you walked in. I guess you're just a little early."

That was a lie. Reo looked like he'd just started. 

His wavy hair was slightly tousled in the back, like someone had been gripping it. Shifting his eyes down, Izuku spotted a few scratch marks sticking out of his sleeve. And even worse, there was the hint of a hickey peeking out of his shirt collar. 

"I know you weren't at the store," Izuku stated. His voice shook from anxiety, but he had to stand his ground. 

"Huh?" Reo turned around. He'd schooled his expression into feigned confusion, but his eyes gave it away. The swollen lips weren't helping his case either. 

"You know, if you're going to cheat, you probably shouldn't suck another person's face at a restaurant down the street from my business. " Izuku was seething, "Both of you are banned from Dynamight, by the way. I told the owner who you are."

He didn't, but Katsuki could easily relay that information to them. Izuku would be happy to provide a picture for the rest of the Dynamight employees. 

Reo's exterior started to crack, but he was still trying to keep up the act. "Whoever told you I was cheating is delusional. It was a half day at work, so I went to the gym, then the store." He took a step forward, and Izuku stumbled a bit as he backed up. "We're on a diet, so it couldn't have been me. One of your friends must be out to get me."

"No, my friends were right. I should have listened to them sooner!"

"You have no proof. I'm not a cheater, Izuku. How dare you believe them over me?"

"I don't have to believe anyone, Reo. I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES!"

It was Reo's turn to stumble. He backed himself into the cabinets, his eyes wide and wild with fury. 

"You've been pigging out behind my back, haven't you? No wonder you haven't lost any weight. Should've known you were going to stay a lying, ugly bitch."

Izuku was stunned. So this is what his partner really thought of him. 

"You were starving me! And for what? So I wouldn't have the energy to realize you were seeing someone behind my back?"

"What was I supposed to do when I was sleeping beside someone who repulsed me every night? I was too pent up, but gagged at the thought of fucking a flabby pancake."

Izuku couldn't take it anymore. He crossed the threshold into the kitchen and punched Reo straight in the nose. He'd never raised his hands in anger, and if this were any other situation he might have regretted the action immediately. But hearing the crunch of his former partner's nose was sort of satisfying after being disrespected like that. 

"You fucking—my nose!" Reo clutched his bleeding face with vitriol in his eyes. 

"Pretty strong for a flabby pancake, huh?" Izuku pulled back, turning so he could gather his things. The night's events made it pretty clear they were done and Izuku wanted to get as much out of this apartment as possible. He wouldn't dare imagine what Reo would do with any leftover belongings after he might have broken his nose. 

He felt triumphant for the first time in a while, until a hand grabbed his hair and pulled. Izuku let out a shriek as Reo bashed the side of his head into the doorway, hard . With his ear ringing, Izuku's vision went blurry and could barely keep himself upright. Reo took that opportunity to put him in a headlock, crushing his windpipe. He struggled for air, but Reo just squeezed tighter. 

"Look what you made me do," Reo panted, "Look what you did to me. All you ever did was make me miserable!"

In all the time he'd been with Reo, he'd never been so physically violent. Cold and emotionally distant, sure, but never violent. Now that his facade had been ripped off, Izuku was experiencing a terrifying side of him. 

His vision was going black from the lack of oxygen, but Reo's hold never faltered. He wondered if this was the end, if Reo was going to kill him. The only comfort he had was the thought of those kind, red eyes from before. His last good memory. 

"Let him go," Himiko said in a voice that was way too serene for the situation. 

Reo let up enough for Izuku to catch a gasping breath and saw two blurry figures in front of him. 

"What the fuck?" 

Reo retreated, taking Izuku with him. His hold lessened enough for Izuku to recover some, but he was still too weak to fight back. He did, however, notice the gun in Himiko's hand. 

Had she always had that? Ochako had mentioned she had a rough past, but that wasn't what Izuku had in mind when she said she was armed. 

"I usually prefer knives, but I figured this was more practical." the blonde giggled maniacally, "Now let him go, or you'll lose more of your precious blood."

Reo let go and Ochako dove in and grabbed Izuku, pulling him to safety. 

"Go grab his things. I think Mr. Cheater and I need to have a heart to heart."

She whisked Izuku away to the bedroom, sitting him on the chair next to the dresser. Izuku's head throbbed and he was still a little disoriented when he felt fingers running through his hair. 

"He really did a number on you, didn't he?" She said, grazing over the tender skin. "Looks like the only blood on you is his, so that's good."

Izuku was at a loss for words. It was all too much, from finding out Reo was being unfaithful, to him quite literally squeezing the life out of him. Luckily, Ochako knew where he stored his suitcases and started pulling clothes. She threw them in with little finesse, but that was fine. The sooner they got out, the better. 

When he finally snapped out of it, Izuku joined her. A duffle bag sat on the bed, and he started throwing things in there. He took everything that was necessary or had value first. His mom would arrive and she could help pack up the rest of it, so he made a pile of things he could part ways with if he needed to. 

"What about your All Might stuff?" his friend asked, looking at a bookshelf filled with books and collectibles. 

"I have a bin with the empty boxes in the back left corner of the closet. I can fit some of the books and movies in the smaller suitcase."

"Is your mom bringing anything?"

"I don't know," he pulled out his phone to check her location. "She's about twenty minutes away."

"I can take this bag down and grab some collapsible crates from the car."

Izuku shuddered, afraid of leaving the room. He had no idea how dangerous Reo could be. "It's not safe to go alone."

"Himiko's got it, trust me," Ochako gave him a reassuring smile, but there was a menacing glee to it that caught him off guard. She threw him a wink and lifted the suitcase off the bed. 

He'd filled the duffle bag beyond its capacity and she waited for him to zip it as far as it would go. She took that too, lifting it like it was nothing and securing it to the handle of the suitcase. 

"Pack your figures, and I'll be right back," she looked over her shoulder and he nodded. 

Izuku was almost grateful that the bulk of his collection resided in his childhood bedroom. He used to have more, but a few All Might figures had to be relocated to his desk in the back room of the cafe after Reo changed his mind about letting Izuku "clutter their nice apartment." In the end, it made his exit a little easier, so he could rejoice in that. 

A shriek could be heard from the living room and Izuku paused what he was doing. Ochako reentered with three small medium-sized crates in hand. 

"Is everything okay?" He asked hesitantly. 

"Great!" his friend sounded too happy. "Just great!"

Did he want to know what was going on out there? 

Probably not.

They packed as much as they could in relative silence. Whenever Izuku had filled something, Ochako would take it out and either place it in her car or set it by the door for easy grabbing later. One of the times she went to the car she came back with his mother. 

She had puffy eyes and lines running down her cheeks where tears had washed away her makeup, but she was just as determined as Ochako. She hugged him tight and told him everything would be fine. Together, they all worked to pack everything Izuku cared about. 

He didn't know how long it took, as he just wanted to keep his hands busy and didn't dare to look, but there came a time where he felt like he had everything he needed. Basically, all the things he was afraid Reo might ruin in retaliation and a little more. 

To be honest, he didn't understand why he'd be mad that he was caught. He didn't care for Izuku—he hadn't for a long time, it seemed. Reo could have broken up with him, but he didn't. 

Did he truly look that bad?

He looked in the mirror. He did look awful, but mostly from the tears and the trauma. Izuku angled himself in different ways, frowning at the way his pants cut into his stomach and created rolls. The seams around his shoulders felt tight too, stretching the fabric of his striped sweater around his arms in a way that it wouldn't if he'd lost a bit of weight. 

Unless Reo brought it up, Izuku rarely paid attention to the way he looked in his clothes. He'd just put them on and get on with his day. But looking in the mirror at this particular moment didn't feel great. 

Maybe he truly was an ugly, flabby pancake. 

"Ready, Izuku?" 

His mom got his attention, and he realized everything they'd packed was gone. He turned to her, the weight of leaving his home of so many years unexpectedly hitting him like a ton of bricks. She pulled him into a hug and he cried into her shoulder,  feeling the safety of her embrace. 

"I'm surprised you managed to get through the fight and everything without crying," Ochako chimed in, her hands on her hips. 

He didn't cry?

Izuku cried his eyes out at the restaurant in front of that cute server, but he didn't shed a tear as he stood up to Reo in the kitchen. 

"Maybe it was the adrenaline rush," the brunette brushed it off. "Anyway, let's go. I think Himiko's having too much fun."

That was concerning, but neither his friend, nor his mom seemed worried, so he followed them out. Sure enough, Himiko and Reo were in the living room and no one had been harmed. The latter, however, was tied up with rope that he didn't know Himiko had brought with her. She sat next to him, closer than would be comfortable, slicing a cucumber into thin slices and eating them. Reo looked terrified every time she licked a piece of cucumber off the blade. 

Ochako leaned over the arm of the couch to give her girlfriend a kiss. "We're done, babe. You can let him go now."

Himiko pouted, but did as she was told. "Now be a good boy and cooperate, or when we come back I'll have backup. My boys and I will gladly make sure you never cheat on anyone in the future."

Reo was stunned into silence. They made eye contact as Izuku passed through to the kitchen to grab his stand mixer, and those dark brown eyes were filled with disdain. He ignored it, in favor of throwing his things into the bowl of the mixer. It looked like Ochako had already ransacked the cabinets, so he was making sure nothing was left behind. The less he had to deal with Reo in the future the better. 

When he was satisfied, he joined everyone else by the door. All the women filed out, but he made the mistake of looking back. There at the end of the hall, Reo smirked. 

"Good luck finding someone to love you."

Izuku slammed the door shut. 

—

"So..." Izuku couldn't help himself from asking, "What's with the gun?"

Once they had gotten to Izuku's mother's (and his) apartment, a poor Inko Midoriya was filled in on what happened before she'd gotten there. She took care of Izuku while the other two, and a few helpful neighbors, lugged all of his bags and boxes upstairs. After that, she ordered enough pizza for everyone and sent them on their way with a few slices. It was now just Ochako and Himiko sitting at the dining room table with them, trying to keep Izuku's mind off the events of the afternoon. 

Himiko pulled out the gun, frightening his mom. She cocked the weapon and everyone but Ochako flinched as she pulled the trigger. No sounds of a gunshot rang through the apartment, but rather the click of a small flame. 

"It was a gift from one of my best friends," she smiled, clicking the button over and over before lighting one of the candles in the center of the table. "He would've found me a real one if I'd asked, but I wanted something special to remember him by. It came in handy today, though!"

"Did he... die?" his mother asked hesitantly. Izuku could tell that she was unsettled by Himiko's demeanor, and if he hadn't been around her for a long time he would probably feel the same way. There was no need to worry. As long as she liked someone, she was relatively harmless. 

"He got put away for a while, but his rich dad paid a lot of money to have him on house arrest for the rest of his sentence. We don't get to see each other often because he still thinks my friends and I are bad influences on him." A frown set in on Himiko's face and placed the lighter on the table. "We were just a bunch of angsty teens who were tricked into a situation we couldn't get out of."

Izuku wanted to know the full story, but thought twice about prying into painful memories. He figured it best to leave it to her to bring up whatever she was comfortable with. When she said nothing else, the focus was taken off her and onto lighter subjects. 

As much as he loved pizza, Izuku found himself staring at it rather than eating it. Whether it was a trauma response or that his stomach was sensitive due to the starvation diet he'd been put on for months, the sight of congealed cheese made him lose his appetite. 

"Are you not hungry?" Ochako asked, ceasing the conversation around them. 

"I'm not used to eating this much," Izuku pushed away the plate. From the corner of his eye he could see the disappointment on his mother's face. She was probably beating herself up for not buying something he was excited about eating. Food was essentially her love language. Nothing made her happier than seeing people content, their bellies full with food she provided. 

He wanted so badly to tell her it wasn't her fault, but he didn't want her to know what he'd been put through. 

Unfortunately, Ochako had other plans. 

"Reo had him on a very restricted diet. He's been voluntarily starving himself for that loser for months."

"You've been what?" His mother looked him over, as if it were possible for him to show signs of malnutrition with his size. She cupped his cheek, running her thumb across his cheekbone. 

"My baby! Why didn't you tell me?" she cried, "I'll help get you back to normal, no matter how long it takes!"

Izuku made sure to bring up the fact that he'd eaten before the confrontation with Reo, and that seemed to give her some peace of mind. She no longer expected him to eat after that and he was allowed to sit back, listening to his favorite women telling stories well into the night. 

"Merry Christmas, Izuku!" His mother opened his door on Christmas morning. She had a large breakfast tray in her hands with food that smelled mouth wateringly good. 

Izuku sat up, groggy from a night of tossing and turning. He stared at her for a few moments until she responded. 

"I thought we could have breakfast by the tree and then open presents after."

Lately, food had been the only incentive for Izuku to leave his bed for any reason. She wouldn't let him eat in his bed, so why would Christmas be any different? 

Izuku rarely had the will to get out of bed for anything other than work. Even then, the ability to handle the business side of the café remotely allowed him to bring his laptop to bed with him while Sato and Koda—the new hire Izuku brought in to assist him—took care of the rest. It was a short term solution at best. He hadn't planned on doing it for long, but he also hadn't anticipated being in a depressive funk this long. 

Weeks had gone by since that fateful night, and Izuku hadn't wanted to do anything but rot in his bed. He even invested in a new bed and mattress, since Reo paid him off for the one he'd purchased when they moved in together. Reo now shared that one with the woman he had seen at the restaurant, as his nosy former neighbor informed him. 

He'd wasted no time moving on while Izuku was the one messed up and drowning in sorrow. The only thing that made him happy these days was his mother's cooking. 

Izuku shuffled into the living room, where she had put on the collection of All Might Christmas specials—a long time Midoriya tradition. It felt wrong that he wasn't immediately excited upon hearing the iconic theme song from his childhood. He hoped that he'd change his tune after the first episode because All Might had always been his comfort character, and he desperately needed to feel something other than despair. 

A glass of orange juice and a plate of fluffy pancakes with fruit slid across the table, beckoning him to the spot next to his mom on the floor. She helped herself to some toppings before also pushing that in his direction. He stared at the feast in front of him, second-guessing himself. 

"You need to eat, baby."

Izuku wasn't going to argue with her, especially when he was practically salivating at the sight of her aesthetically pleasing breakfast. He slathered his breakfast with syrup and dug in. 

His mom's cooking was some of the best food he'd ever tasted. He'd spent his childhood summers learning how to make desserts in their tiny kitchen, watching with rapt attention as his mother made sweet treats. He was inspired by the recipes she taught him when curating Midori's menu, though he always made sure to put his own creative spin on it so it was the perfect blend of the two of them.  

While he considered himself good at his profession, there was something about his mom's cooking that was unlike anything else. Every bite brought him back to the good old days, before the responsibilities and the messy relationships. Izuku almost felt like a kid again. 

The two of them sitting side by side and eating pancakes in front of the TV while All Might played was just what he needed. Now, if only he could still fit into that onesie...

They ate in relative silence, both enjoying the show and each other's presence enough that conversation wasn't necessary. When they were done, his mother happily cleared the empty plates and Izuku was actually excited about the gifts under the tree. There weren't many, but Izuku didn't mind. 

"I'm glad you came back to me in time for Christmas. It's been a while since we've done this," his mother looked teary as she took in the sight of him in pajamas next to the tree. "I got you a few things and I hope you like them."

She looked absolutely giddy as she handed him the first box. Izuku didn't want to disappoint—he ripped off the paper with as much enthusiasm as he could muster so early in the morning without coffee. Opening the box revealed beautiful velvet fabric in a gorgeous orange. It was dark like autumn leaves and almost sparkled in the morning light. 

"I figured you might want some nicer clothes in case you go out with your friends... or maybe a date," his mom hesitated on the last words, but they still came as a shock to Izuku. 

"O-oh," his smile turned queasy as he looked at the blouse. It was beautiful but he didn't—

She tried to save the moment, handing him the next thing. "Never mind about that."

Izuku brushed it off. It was fine. Even if he wasn't ready to get back out there, it was a good idea to have a more diverse wardrobe. He was almost exclusively wearing oversized sweaters with his oversized overalls since the weather grew cool enough for sleeves. 

The next box held a lump of faded black denim. Jeans had been the first thing to go when he started gaining weight, preferring the give that polyester allowed. He knew his fear was irrational, as pants in his size would fit him better than those that weren't. 

"I don't know a lot about men's clothing, but I downloaded a video app and was amazed by the fun fashion trends. I ended up buying the whole outfit worn by a man who looked like you!"

Pulling out the jeans, he realized that they weren't the normal skinny or straight leg jeans he was used to. His mother had bought him wide leg jeans, like the style of his overalls, but without the straps. He definitely didn't hate them but he remained apprehensive. 

The last gift she handed him turned out to be a pair of red high-top converse. It was the perfect gift, as he'd worn down his last pair and had to tread carefully over smooth and wet surfaces. 

His mom had gifted him a whole outfit, but the question was: when would he wear it?

"Can we do a fashion show? I want to see my baby in his new clothes!" His mom squeaked, and he guessed the time was now. 

"I'll be right back!" Izuku smiled. He struggled a bit to push himself off the floor but eventually made his way to the bedroom, new clothes in hand. 

The velvet felt silky in his hands as he buttoned it up, but the way the fabric was pulling as he moved was concerning. He hoped that when he was done buttoning it, he could adjust the fabric so there weren't any gaps. His luck ran short when he put his arms down and there was still some slight tension near the buttons. He probably wouldn't be able to move much in the shirt, but he wasn't about to tell his mother that it didn't fit. 

The pants were slightly stretchy, something he was happy to feel as he pulled them up his thighs. But when it came to the button at the top, he had to put more force than he'd like in order to fasten it. 

"It looks so good!" his mother cried as she stood in the doorway. Izuku would beg to differ, as he felt rather frumpy. He'd gained more weight since the breakup, that much was clear. He wanted to tear the clothes off and hide them in the depths of his closet. 

She walked in, fussing with the fit of the fabric around his shoulders. "I've learned it's all about the styling with clothes like this." His mom grabbed the bottom hem of the shirt and pulled it up slightly, "It's supposed to be tucked in, and the pants are supposed  to sit higher on the waist."

Izuku saw her back as she turned to his dresser, going through the top drawer. "I ordered a belt but it hasn't come in yet, so this might do!" She grabbed a plain black leather belt with a silver clasp while he tucked the shirt in as she described. He admitted that the fit was better with the pants higher on his waistline and not sitting so low on his hips. As a bonus, the denim was no longer dragging on the ground. The final piece came when she slid the belt through the pant's loops, leaving it undone for him to fasten. 

He looked at himself in the mirror now that everything was the way she envisioned. It looked better, but Izuku's eyes still darted to all the flaws that made him feel insecure. It wasn't the worst outfit he'd worn, and if it were on a smaller body, he'd dare say it could be phenomenal, but on him it just looked frumpy. He didn't have the right shape for it. 

His mom jumped up and down with joy, downright pleased with her gift. "I went through your closet to find the right sizes and I think I did well! Anyone with eyes wouldn't be able to keep them off you!" 

He wanted to believe her. He truly did. But Reo's voice kept playing in the back of his mind. 

'Good luck finding someone to love you.'

"I love it!" Izuku smiled to hide the grimace that was starting to form on his face. 

—

The new year came around and Izuku received a call too early for any normal person. Months ago, he might have been more awake and willing to answer, but these days Izuku wasn't a morning person at all. He turned over in bed to ignore it. 

Only, the phone kept ringing. 

And ringing. 

And ringing. 

Izuku flipped over, pulling his phone off the nightstand to see Ochako was the one disturbing his precious slumber. She was relentless, and he knew she'd only keep calling unless he turned off his phone. He weighed his options, and decided against it when he realized her ringing the doorbell incessantly was a possible outcome. In the end, it was useless to keep ignoring her calls. 

"What?" He grumbled. Izuku fell back into the pillows and closed his eyes. 

"I'm outside," Ochako said firmly. 

His eyes flew open. What did she mean she was outside?!

"W-what? Why?" He sat up abruptly and found himself slightly winded from the action. 

"I'm tired of not having my best friend here to help me with our business. It took me twenty minutes to get here without traffic, so you have about fifteen to get ready before I come up there and drag you down."

Izuku threw himself out of bed in response. He didn't need Ochako coming up and creating a fuss loud enough to wake his mom (and the surrounding units) up. "Don't you dare! I'll be down as soon as I can!"

After a quick wash in the shower, he haphazardly threw on a pair of cropped black overalls and a t-shirt that said "baking shirt." The simple garment gave him a small spark of joy, as he hadn't worn it in quite a while. He couldn't dwell on the feeling though, as time was of the essence. Izuku grabbed a jacket, making sure he had his phone and wallet, and ran down the stairs. Just as expected, Ochako was there, bundled up in a coat and scrolling on her phone when he opened the door. 

The city was not yet awake—dark and without the liveliness of pedestrians and moving vehicles. Without traffic, getting to the café was a breeze, and they made it there in about twenty minutes like Ochako said. 

Walking into the kitchen for the first time in weeks brought tears to Izuku's eyes. He'd missed it more than he realized. Handling the business side was never his favorite part of owning the café. For him it was coming up with new ideas for pastries and improving techniques for the old ones. He loved forming relationships with the community, one pastry at a time—something he couldn't do from the desk of his childhood bedroom. 

Sure, the last time he'd been in that kitchen was the day his relationship exploded, but he needed to get past that and realize that not everything that was in his life during his relationship with Reo was bad. He'd worked hard to open this place with Ochako, and he needed to remember that. 

"Sato started on the croissants yesterday so you don't have to worry about those. I hope you can channel your sad energy into making cinnamon rolls because the regulars have been asking about them since you left"

"Sato and Koda haven't made any?"

"I'm sure they could have, but that's always been your thing. They didn't want to overstep."

Izuku was a little peeved that they weren't listening to the customers, but it was sweet that they regarded cinnamon rolls as his signature. He enjoyed making them, even if he mostly did it when he was unhappy. 

"I'm not used to being awake this early. I haven't had any coffee since you rushed me out of the house."

Ochako smiled and went to one of the fridges and pulled out a pitcher. "Well good thing I made your favorite cold brew."

Getting back into the swing of things was easier than he anticipated, becoming second nature to him once again. All those weeks of doing nothing but lying around, wallowing in despair meant that his muscles would be sore, but he would have to suffer through it. It was his fault for being sedentary for so long, and the only way to get past the fatigue was to build up the strength again. 

The first batch of cinnamon rolls were ready, and he'd made sure to save a few for he and Ochako to share before the store opened. Izuku wasn't sure how the day would go, but he was hopeful for the first time in a while. 

He did his opening walkthrough of the café, making sure everything was in order. It was comforting to be surrounded by the moss green walls once again. He turned on the orange pendant lights, flooding the room with warm bright light and straightened out the saffron pillows that adorned the dark wood furniture. 

Ochako went through and quickly watered a few of the plants while he wiped the leaves of the giant monstera in the back corner next to some plush chairs. It was his favorite place to sit when it wasn't busy and he had the time to sit and chat with people. If he was alone, he'd pick a book off the large bookcase and curl up. It was the most inviting place on a sunny day, but moody and inspiring when it rained. Absolutely perfect. 

When everything looked up to his standards, he flipped the sign to signify that they were officially open for the day. There was always a lull in the first few minutes. With no customers and the pastries either baking in the oven and not requiring his immediate attention, there was little else for him to do. Ochako was usually finished setting things up at the bar, so they just stood together, admiring the fruits of their labor. 

They both created something amazing with Midori. 

Izuku heard the door open in the back, alerting him that reinforcements had arrived, and therefore their comfortable silence would soon be broken. He readied himself to greet the morning crew, but surprisingly, someone entered through the front door first. 

"Oh it's our newest regular," Ochako perked up. Izuku peered over the pastry case and the first thing he saw were the familiar blonde spikes from that fateful day. 

Izuku crouched down so fast he felt dizzy. He hoped if he stealthily made it to the back he wouldn't be seen by the cute waiter. 

"What are you doing?" Ochako asked, and way too loudly he might add. 

"Hide me!" Izuku hissed, covering his face like that would help any. 

"Uhhhh," his friend started and Izuku took a peek through his fingers. 

That blonde head loomed over the pastry case, crimson eyes peering through the glass. 

Shoot!

"Been wondering when you were going to show up," Katsuki smirked. 

Izuku lowered his hands, and Ochako held out her hand to help him up. 

Izuku felt his face heat up. "W-what? You've been looking for me?" 

"Do you two know each other?" Ochako looked between them. 

"We met once," Izuku couldn't look at Katsuki. He just couldn't. Instead, he straightened out his overalls and tucked his shirt back in. 

"This is Bakugo. He's the owner of Dynamight."

Izuku's head snapped up. 

What?

"I thought you just worked there!" Izuku was thoroughly confused as he settled his eyes on the other man. "You took my order. You said you were on good terms with the owner!"

Katsuki stood there with one eyebrow cocked as Izuku put it together. 

All the comped meals, the free beer... Someone who simply waited tables probably wouldn't have been able to do any of that, unless—

Oh no. 

Katsuki was probably looking to collect after being in the center of his relationship woes and that was why he kept coming in looking for Izuku. This was not the way he wanted to introduce himself to the owner of the newest restaurant on the block! He was hoping to be more professional, and Katsuki—well, he'd seen the worst of Izuku. 

Great. He'd be forever known as the guy who found out he'd been cheated on at his restaurant. 

"You—I owe you for last time. Whatever you want, it's on the house!" Izuku bowed, hoping that was enough of an apology for the inconvenience. 

"If that's the case, then my regular order, Cheeks," he winked at Ochako and it appeared that Izuku wasn't the only reason he kept coming. Katsuki would be disappointed to know that she was taken by another woman. 

"Medium flat white with a pump of toffee syrup, coming up!" she smiled, turning to make the order. 

Katsuki leaned against the pastry case staring (or was it glaring?) at Izuku. 

"Is that all?" Izuku looked away, blinded by the man's aura. 

"That's all."

Wait, really? If Izuku were in his shoes, he would probably feel bad to ask for a lot, but he would at least allow himself to indulge in more than just a coffee. 

"Excuse me for just a moment, please!"

Izuku ran off to the kitchen before Katsuki could say anything. Sato was already working on icing the next batch of cinnamon rolls when he opened the door. 

"Can I have one of those?" He asked. 

Sato nodded and Izuku went to grab a plate and a fork. When prompted, he put one of the cinnamon rolls on the plate for Izuku to take back to the front. It smelled heavenly, and it was practically fresh out of the oven. Who could say no to that?

He strutted back through the door confidently, placing the plate on the counter where Ochako had just set his coffee. 

"After everything, I can't just let you have a coffee. Especially when our cinnamon rolls were fresh out of the oven. I hope you enjoy!"

"Thanks nerd," Katsuki grumbled. He turned around, only to sit in the corner—Izuku's favorite spot. 

"He comes here everyday?" Izuku whispered to Ochako. 

"Every morning around this time. He doesn't talk much, but one time I asked him why he's always the first person in the café. He just said he was a morning person. He orders the same thing and sits in that corner." She pointed to the seat that he was occupying. "He stays and scrolls on his phone for twenty or so minutes, only looking up when a door opens, then leaves."

"Interesting," Izuku found himself staring at the man who was seemingly savoring the sweet treat he'd given him. 

He was interrupted when the brunette elbowed him. When he glared at her, she nodded in Katsuki's direction, mouthing, "Talk to him."

What compelled him to actually follow her advice, Izuku wasn't sure, but he walked around the bar and approached the man. 

"How is it?" Izuku smiled at Katsuki, but he couldn't keep himself from wringing his hands. 

"S'good."

Katsuki was on his last bite, using what was left to scoop up the melted icing on the plate and bringing it to his lips. His eyes were closed and a slight smile on the corner of his mouth awakened a small kaleidoscope of butterflies that started fluttering in his stomach.

"You gonna stand there all day or are you gonna sit down?"

Oh? Was that what he was supposed to do?

He guessed that would be a good start. 

Izuku sat in the other chair, meeting eyes with Ochako who gave him a thumbs up. She turned around and disappeared into the back, probably to tell Sato he was taking a break. Meanwhile, Katsuki leaned back with his coffee in hand watching the whole interaction. 

"So you've been gone, huh?"

"Yeah," Izuku sighed, "I probably didn't deal with the breakup as well as I could have."

"That bastard cheated on you. Anyone would be beat up about that."

Izuku winced at the words 'beat up.' Reo did a number on him in that respect, but Izuku also wasn't innocent. 

"I'm back now, so that's all that matters." He shrugged like the decision to come back was simple, even though he knew it wasn't. He'd been dragged there against his will, and he had no idea how he was going to come in consistently after the day was done. 

"Good," Katsuki said from behind the cup as he took another sip. 

There was a break in their conversation and Izuku wasn't sure what to say, but he couldn't let the silence go on. 

"I'm sorry I didn't know you owned Dynamight."

"It's fine, nerd. If that extra I'd just hired hadn't been a no show, then we probably wouldn't be sitting here right now."

Izuku scrunched his brows. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to gather from that statement. It was likely that he wouldn't have had a reason to come to the café if not for the fact that Izuku said he would treat Katsuki to whatever he wanted in return for his kindness. Regardless of the actual reason, he was glad that Katsuki kept coming despite not getting free coffee on his first visit. Their regulars were the reason Midori was allowed to stay in business. 

But Izuku couldn't ignore the use of that nickname again. Nerd . Katsuki had used it when he first came into the café, and again just a moment ago. Izuku knew he was a nerd, and there was the brief mention of All Might in their last interaction, but he wasn't aware they were familiar enough for nicknames yet. 

"I guess not..." Izuku scoured his brain, trying to think of something to call Katsuki. He was never good with names. Even Midori was Ochako's idea after seeing the paint swatches Izuku had picked out. All he could come up with was a childish, "Kacchan."

Katsuki stared at him incredulously, raising his brow in response to Izuku's nickname. And Izuku was a coward these days, sure, but he wasn't about to back down to this attractive man who called him a nerd. He gave the blonde his cheekiest smile and crossed his legs, feigning comfort as he settled into his chair. 

Katsuki responded with a huff, but otherwise didn't contest the name, which was a victory for Izuku. 

"Anyway—"

"So—"

They both spoke at the same time and stared at each other before breaking out into laughter, and all Izuku could think was how glad he was that Ochako forced him out of bed that morning. Being around people, being around Katsuki, made him feel lighter than he'd been since before he left Reo. 

"Ochako said you like this spot. Do you ever read while you're here?"

Katsuki looked up at the shelf, running a finger over the spines. He picked out the first volume of the All Might series—a reprint, as Izuku wouldn't keep a super rare first print in a place where it could be taken—and pulled it out. 

"Huh, I thought they were just for decoration."

Izuku giggled, "Of course not! We cycle out most of the books once a year, allowing people to trade. Bring a book, take a book kind of thing. We also take donations from time to time. Whatever doesn't end up on the shelf is donated to places that need them." He pointed at the shelf filled with solely All Might manga. "All Might always stays though. It's my personal contribution."

"Neat," Katsuki put the volume back in its place. "I usually read a bit on my phone before I go to the gym or run some errands."

"Now you know," Izuku said as two people walked into the café. 

Katsuki nodded, standing up. "I'll have to look at it next time. I'm meeting up with someone before I have to open up the restaurant."

Izuku deflated, though he didn't know why. It was clear that the man next to him was at catch, so it shouldn't be a surprise that he was seeing someone. 

"My buddy's an idiot and did something to tick off his girlfriend. I'm helping him pick out flowers at Vines."

"O-oh!" Izuku perked up. He got up and gestured toward the counter. "In that case, maybe a few chocolate croissants will also help him smooth things over."

He flitted over to the bar and got out a box, putting four croissants inside—enough for them to share—and handed the box to Katsuki. 

"Since you helped me out when I needed it, it's on me." He smiled. 

Katsuki hesitated before taking the box out of Izuku's hands, and he swore he could see a tinge of pink on the man's cheeks. "Thanks," he muttered. "See ya." 

Izuku waved goodbye with a smile and watched the man leave. He was relieved that their interaction fared better than he'd expected, but slightly disappointed that it ended so soon.

"Did you have fun?" Ochako whispered in his ear, scaring him out of his daze. "You never told me about him."

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "There were more pressing matters at the time, so I must have forgotten."

"Hmph," she puffed her cheeks before turning around to greet the people at the counter who appeared to be ready to order. 

Izuku smiled to himself as he got back to work. He looked forward to the next time Katsuki came in. 

—

Like Ochako said, Katsuki maintained his regular status by coming in most mornings. It was probably every morning, but Izuku was too embarrassed to ask if he showed up on his days off. Once Izuku realized he wasn't going anywhere, he decided to use Katsuki as a tester for new recipes since he was also in the culinary profession. He never complained about receiving free food, and actually gave constructive feedback that Izuku could use to improve. 

He started allotting time on weekend mornings for a small break to sit with Katsuki when business was slow at Midori. The blonde would take out one of the All Might volumes and they'd discuss parts of the chapters in the few minutes Izuku was able to spare. They often argued about which costume was the best. Izuku preferred the classic golden age costume with its striking primary colors, while Katsuki thought the moodier bronze age was the best. 

During the week when things were busier, Katsuki started lingering around the bar more, talking to Izuku while he ran back and forth from the kitchen to restock items as they disappeared from the case and fulfill larger orders. 

One thing Izuku had noticed about Katsuki was that didn't seem to care about his size at all. While Reo had made it a big deal towards the end of their relationship, acting like it was painful to look at him, the blonde had never made a negative comment about his looks in any way. Not like the guy was interested in him romantically, but it made Izuku feel comfortable for an attractive male to not focus on his flaws. 

Over time, Izuku realized that he was spending less time looking at himself negatively in the mirror and was more receptive to compliments when he received them. He still had his moments of insecurity, but he was too busy to think about it once February came around and they came out with their specialty pastries and drinks for Valentine's Day. 

Both Ochako and his mom started hinting at putting himself out there but he wasn't ready. Izuku didn't know when he'd be ready to trust someone like he did with Reo again. Things were great for years and he'd never suspected that there was anything wrong, and then their relationship disintegrated in the last few months. Izuku couldn't help but wonder how long Reo had only tolerated their relationship and before he started looking elsewhere, or how long he held out before making Izuku miserable by not helping out around the apartment.

But when Katsuki's stare lingered longer than usual and he started bringing Izuku lunches after he complained that he didn't have a lot of time or energy to make them before work, Izuku was flustered. He felt that longing to be with someone—that someone being Katsuki specifically. 

It was the week before Valentine's Day that something shifted. Katsuki came in like normal and sat in the corner, but when Izuku was too busy to greet him, he sat at one of the stools by the bar. Izuku was behind that morning because Sato was running late, meaning he had more work to do and couldn't chat. It didn't seem to bother Katsuki, as he appeared content to stare at Izuku as he went about his tasks. 

It was odd... and also flattering? But it made Izuku feel insecure being the focus of Katsuki's heated gaze. Did he look okay? Izuku had a pair of overalls on like he normally did, with the sleeves of his sweater pushed up from working up a sweat. All the attention from the blonde wasn't helping either. It made him want to step outside and let the frigid February air shock his nervous system. 

Izuku went to the kitchen to finish decorating some cupcakes and all he could think about was why Katsuki was acting abnormal. He never stayed that long, and he was never so focused on Izuku. Just the memory of those crimson eyes made him shiver.

Ochako walked in with the phone next to her ear. "We've got another order of cupcakes," she whispered. 

"How many?" He asked as he tried to steady his hand. He'd been piping frosting for too long and his grip was shaky. 

"A dozen. They want a 2 p.m. pickup time, is that okay?"

He knew he'd have more help by then so he gave her a quick thumbs up. 

If they were that busy before Valentine's Day, he tried to work out how many large orders they'd receive on the day itself. 

Izuku didn't mind working holidays like Valentine's Day, especially now that he was single. He and Reo celebrated the first two together, but by the third, they both kind of forgot. Or rather, Reo forgot and Izuku didn't say anything about it. 

This year, he wouldn't mind having a bit of a distraction. They would no doubt have some lovey dovey couples coming in for coffee dates, but he wouldn't have to deal with them personally if he didn't want to, which worked just fine.

Izuku packaged the cupcakes he was working on for a delivery order and opened the door to bring it out for Ocha to finish, but the sight of Katsuki looming over the pastry case made him jump. He clutched the box tighter, squishing the sides slightly. 

"Oh, Kacchan, I wasn't expecting you!" He ducked down to grab a bag and placed the box inside before putting it with the other to-go orders. "D-did you need anything?"

He walked up to the register to take his order, but Katsuki's request caught him by surprise. 

"You," he replied, smirking at Izuku. 

Izuku froze and he felt a blush creeping up his skin.

"I—what?" His voice came out as a squeak, which made everything more embarrassing.

"What are you doing next week?"

"Working... Why?"

"Let me take you out."

Izuku was not only nervous, but having a hard time grasping that Katsuki had just asked him out. "On a date or with a sniper?"

Katsuki let out a small chuckle at his terrible joke. "On a date, ya damn nerd."

So it was confirmed. Katsuki had been acting weird all morning because he wanted to ask him out. 

Wait... What?!

"You... like me?"

"I'm asking you out, aren't I?"

"Even when I look like this?" Izuku gestured to the body he was hiding with oversized clothing. Though it wasn't really hiding him, if anything, it made him look larger than he actually was. 

Katsuki looked him up and down in confusion. "Yeah. What's wrong with that?"

"I—oh. Uhhhhh, I don't know," Izuku was looking around, trying to spot abnormalities in his surroundings to prove he was in a dream, or perhaps an alternate universe. To his dismay he couldn't find a single one.

The guy was serious about it. 

He heard someone giggle behind him, and Ochako stood close by, utterly amused with the situation. Izuku was glad he could provide her with some entertainment. 

"What do you mean, you don't know?" Katsuki asked. 

"I don't know if I can go out with you," Izuku deflated even though he was the one giving Katsuki the bad news. 

Katsuki sounded choked up as he asked, "Why?" 

The sound made his chest tighten. "I like you, Kacchan. I really do, I'm just—" feeling insecure about my body, especially after my last partner treated me like shit over it. "still working through things after Reo."

That smirk came back full force after Izuku admitted that he liked him. "I like you, you like me. I feel like that's the important part, so what's the deal?"

"I'm not fixed just because you like me, Kacchan." Izuku sighed, putting his hands on the counter. It was the only thing grounding him at this point. His heart was soaring, off into the clouds and over the moon because Katsuki wanted to go out with him. 

"Maybe not, but it helps to have someone who actually gives a shit stand by you while you put yourself back together."

Izuku didn't know what to say. Katsuki actually seemed to care about him and didn't obsess over his body like Reo, which gave him hope. 

He knew he didn't need a man to help him get over Reo. Was he really sad about his ex? Not really. The whole situation sucked, but he wasn't dying for the man to want him again. What he was still working on was changing the way he saw himself after Reo made him feel worse about his insecurities?

Izuku was still trying to find a new normal after isolating himself for weeks, and was trying to work off at least some of the weight he'd gained in his depressive state. 

But he wanted Katsuki. He was kind (even though he didn't like to show it) and they connected on so many levels. If Katsuki didn't think his body was a dealbreaker, why should he?

Maybe it could work out. 

When he didn't respond, Katsuki sighed. "Look, it's just one date, okay? Not the rest of our lives."

He was right. It was just a date. There was no reason to be so serious about it. He was allowed to have fun, and his mom would be happy to know that he got some use out of the gift she gave him. 

"Not the rest of our lives..." 

"Yet," Katsuki clarified and something just felt right about the way he looked at him. 

Izuku smiled because that one word made all the difference. 

"Okay"

—

Izuku was shuffling through his closet, trying to figure out what to wear to work. He hummed along to the changing pitch of an electric toothbrush in the bathroom—a sign Kacchan was getting ready to walk him to Midori before going to the gym. 

The noise stopped, followed by running water, and Izuku hastily threw on a shirt to avoid being caught with no clothes on. Kacchan’s voice called from the bathroom, “You don’t have to answer now, but is there anything you wanted to do for your birthday?” 

“Maybe we could go shopping for new clothes? Mine aren’t really fitting anymore,” He groaned as he looked in the mirror. Even the shirts that weren't deliberately oversized were starting to feel loose. And while Izuku hadn't lost a lot of weight, he was seeing a change in his body since he'd gotten together with Katsuki. 

Izuku didn't know what he'd done to deserve such a doting partner. Being with Katsuki brought so much light into his life. He'd never felt so secure with anyone. When he had negative feelings towards his body, his Kacchan would chase them away with kisses. 

When Izuku wanted to start making changes, Katsuki showed him that making healthy decisions didn't always involve restrictive diets. It definitely didn't involve starving himself. And unlike Reo, he never made him feel bad for wanting to indulge in something every once in a while. It was wild how easy it was to see positive change when his mind and body were in a good place. He knew Katsuki loved him no matter how much he weighed, so anything Izuku did was for himself, and that made all the difference. 

Katsuki came up behind him as he looked at himself in the mirror. "Can we get you some pants that show this off?" He asked, squeezing Izuku's ass like regularly did. 

His... backside had changed quite a bit, and he found that Kacchan liked it. A lot. 

"We could look into that, I guess," he shrugged. 

"Or I can have the old man take in some of your old ones. Whatever makes you feel more comfortable, baby." Kacchan kissed him on the cheek. "I'll start breakfast okay?"

Izuku looked at himself in the mirror again, and while he wasn't thin or anywhere near the "ideal size" for the average person, he didn't look at himself and hate what he saw. 

"Kacchan?" he called out, and his partner stopped in the doorway and looked back. "I think I'm ready to try something new."