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“Do you want me to kill you?”
Katsuki held back his sigh at Aizawa’s dramatic statement, slumping lower in the seat. Despite wanting to call out the stupid question, he kept his lips in a fierce scowl. He knew, deep down, his manager’s irritation while rubbing the bridge of his nose was valid. Katsuki understood how important public image was. The world loved scrutinizing every action of someone in the spotlight, and Katsuki was currently the hottest actor in the world. Fighting with the paparazzi was a choice.
A bad choice, but...
Fuck that, he thought to himself, nose scrunched in his annoyance. The bastard had it coming.
As if reading his mind, Aizawa sent him a glare. “What part of throwing a man into the park fountain was a good idea?”
“He shouldn’t talk shit if he can’t handle the consequences.”
The comment in question wasn’t aimed at him. He’d just left dinner with his parents when the swarm of people surrounded them, tossing out pointless questions and rumors Katsuki normally ignored. But the negative dig at his mother’s ‘abusive’ child rearing struck something deep in his core. Katsuki was a troublesome kid, and his personality mirrored his mother in a way that made them bicker. But a few head slaps and explosive arguments didn’t take away from how much his mother loved him. When nobody believed he could make it as an actor, she stood by his side, offering to cover his bills for the first year he went after his dreams. His mother was his rock, and even if he called her a hag, he knew how lucky he was to have both of his parents.
So, he made sure everyone knew what happened when they slandered those he loved.
Proving he wasn’t ashamed of his choice, Katsuki met Aizawa’s tired stare and huffed. “He grabbed my hag’s arm. Denim Head already said I can claim defense of others or something if the asshole tries to press charges.”
“You damaged his camera.” Aizawa’s dry reply didn’t change Katsuki’s scowl.
“I’ve got the money to cover it.”
“That’s not the point.” Aizawa walked around his desk, sitting on the edge to stare Katsuki down. His blunt tone, the reason Katsuki chose him as his agent, cut through the meat of the problem. “The cost of one camera is nothing compared to the negative perception from the industry. Directors and screen producers don’t enjoy working with actors they believe will cause issues on their set. If this were a one-time problem, nobody would care. But losing your cool in the social side of your career is well documented.”
“People like my attitude,” Katsuki replied, but lost some of his confidence when Aizawa’s gaze narrowed.
“Fans do. But that only works when you’re in new productions. After this weekend, Howitzer Impact is rethinking the contract.”
That made Katsuki sit up straighter, stomach dropping. He was supposed to play the main hero of the movie. When speaking with the screenwriter, they admitted they’d envisioned Katsuki when creating Dynamight. The project was still in the early stages, the other major role not selected, but Katsuki’s choice was all but cemented in stone.
“You’re talented, and can sell a movie.” Aizawa’s praise always came with a harsh reality. “But if people’s views change on you, your devoted fans won’t be enough to cover the cost of casting you.”
He knew Aizawa wasn’t being dramatic. Enji Todoroki was an action actor who was super popular when Katsuki was a kid. Not as cool as Toshinori, who had been the reason Katsuki got into acting. But the man was still a household name who felt untouchable. That was until his eldest son (a child star that fell from grace) released a documentary about his father. The intense domestic abuse he and his family endured ended up getting Enji black-listed in the acting industry. Though he still lived lavishly, and nobody took away his acting awards, Enji never got another major role again.
Katsuki refused to bring that shame to his parents.
“Fine.” Pushing aside his feelings about the snotty paparazzi, Katsuki prepared for the worst. “What do I gotta do? Another puppy interview or some cooking show?”
“Whatever she says.”
“Who—”
“I called in a specialist.”
Before Katsuki could ask what he was talking about, the door to Aizawa’s office burst open, a woman’s boot leaving the kicked wood to step inside. With sea foam-colored hair and overalls that stopped in the middle of her stomach, Katsuki couldn’t tell if she was in style or got dressed in the dark. What she was a ‘specialist’ of , Katsuki had no idea, but her orange bandana and far too cheerful grin made him wary.
“Aw, Shota! Did you call me special?”
“No, a specialist—” His manager grunted when the woman launched herself into his side, hugging him with more familiarity than most dared with the surly man. “Emi, remove yourself before I throw you out the window.”
“That’s not exactly public-friendly language, ya silly cutie.” Despite her laugh, she stepped back, spinning to face Katsuki and humming. “So this is your… what did you call him? Problem child?”
“Oi—”
“Yes.” Aizawa’s quick cutoff made Katsuki scoff, glaring while he continued. “He needs something to showcase he’s not a feral cat waiting for his next victim.”
“After that video I saw trending, we’re gonna need the big guns on this one.”
“Seriously? I didn’t even punch the guy!” He lifted him under his armpits and dropped the jerk in the water. It wasn’t his fault the guy skipped leg day and collapsed like a fawn.
Emi waved him off, as if his input wasn’t needed. “Lucky for you, I’ve got just the fix! It’s a good thing you’re a cutie. I prefer the dark and broody type, but…”
“Not even if you paid me,” Aizawa answered, though she only bumped their shoulders and tossed two finger-guns at Katsuki.
“My bestie Nemuri has a show that’s all the rave right now. She’s been looking for a big name to get on there for the finale, and I think the internet would totally explode if you showed up.” Emi giggled at her own joke. Before Katsuki could insult her terrible humor, she leaned closer. “You heard of ‘Love is Blind’?”
“Fuck no.”
He had heard of the stupid dating show because Mina never shut up about it. Kirishima watched it while they ran at the gym every Monday, and Denki had tried to apply to be a contestant several times. Katsuki didn’t get the appeal; why would someone want to sit on a stage, with a wall between them and three strangers, and try to guess who would be the best one to fall in love with? How did someone get to know a person with a studio audience and cameras in their face?
That didn’t even account for Katsuki’s… hang-ups. For one, he was a famous actor. Finding someone who liked him over his fame or wallet was like catching fish with a broken net. Beyond that, he wasn’t conceited enough to pretend his personality was an acquired taste. He put work first, had a small threshold for clingy dynamics, and rarely found anyone sexually appealing. The few times he’d been set up on a date, he hadn’t made it through the appetizer before one of them asked for the check. Idiots liked his ‘snarky, cocky’ personality until they realized he wasn’t a broken toy that needed fixing.
So, having him look for love seemed like a train wreck.
“Oh, don’t be shy. It’s super cute, and everyone loves to see their favorite actor smitten as a kitten!” When Katsuki crossed his arms in his obvious protest, she only laughed. How was this woman so happy? “Relax, grumpy gills. None of the ones with famous contestants are real. Imagine if they let you date some random nobody from the street? That’s asking for a media swarm!”
“You’re gonna put in a fake contestant,” Aizawa said, Emi nodding enough to move her bandana.
“I asked around, and a screenwriter I’ve been working with offered to help. Ochaco’s looking for some inspiration for her next romance movie, so it’s a win-win.”
“Round Cheeks?”
Katsuki had never starred in any of her movies, but he actually knew her before either got into Hollywood. When they were kids, they went to the same theatre camps during the summer. She wrote the play he performed in for his senior year. They lost touch after graduation, but re-connected when Kirishima got his first big role in one of her movies. He and Mina ended up starring in her most popular film, and she came to their yearly Thanksgiving dinner. Ochaco was pretty, but Katsuki had seen her more as an annoying sister than anything romantic.
“The plan’s pretty simple; you go on the show, pick her, go on a few random dates. Give it a month or two, let her do some interviews about your ‘casual’ dating status and her upcoming movie. And then, once everyone’s thinking of cute ship names for the happy couple, you break up. Show you’re a stand-up guy by defending her when your crazy fans attack her, and gain lots of points!”
“I think this is stupid,” Katsuki said, even as Aizawa pipushed from his desk and tugged on his scarf.
“Good thing you pay me to think for you.” He turned to Emi, Katsuki knowing his fate was sealed even before he spoke. “Let her know Katsuki will be there.”
“Perfect! Boys, you won’t regret this.”
Katsuki had a feeling he would.
~**~
Like Emi predicted, the news of Katsuki showing up on the dating show overtook any negative articles about him.
Ochaco called him to tease about their ‘fated meeting’, though she did take the time to catch up from their last get together. He learned through the grapevine that the second person on the show would be Monoma. The director always had the weirdest indie movies, and acted like he was the star in the movie. He knew Monoma was joining in to get attention over actually wanting anything to do with Katsuki. Actually, the last time Katsuki heard, Monoma was in a weird ‘situationship’ with Shinso (one of Aizawa’s employees at his agency).
They held a contest for the third spot on the show, which Katsuki scoffed at. Whoever won had to know a good amount about Katsuki for the spot, which he only allowed after a thorough background check was done. He wasn’t given the guy’s information to investigate himself, only getting the nickname he’d use on the game-show; Deku. Despite knowing he wouldn’t pick the guy, Katsuki walked onto the set two months later with a signed photo to give as a consolation prize (for wasting his time). Katsuki liked his fans; it was the paparazzi he hated.
They were the only reason he was sitting on the stage, wincing when Nemuri practically shouted into her microphone beside him.
“Hello everyone! Welcome back to…” She held out the microphone to the audience, Katsuki holding back his eye-roll when they shouted the show’s name. “That’s right; Love is Blind. I’m your host, Midnight, the time when fantasies come true. And I’m here to bring another dreamer’s love to the real world. Our lucky hunk looking for romance is a face I’m sure all of you know; Katsuki Bakugo!”
The screaming from the crowd proved his popularity had only sky-rocketed since the show announcement was made. Katsuki saw banners with his name and shirts from his previous movies on the guests. He hated admitting that Emi was right, but the proof was sitting in front of him. All he needed to do was get through the stupid game, let the show go viral, and finish signing his contract with the new movie.
“Now, we’ve searched all over the world for the perfect match, and we think we’ve picked Katsuki’s soulmate. But it’s up to him to figure out who. To keep our contestants a mystery, we’ve had them pick super secret names to go by. Contestant number one, tell us who you are and why you think Katsuki should pick you.”
“Hi there!” He could tell Ochaco’s voice from a mile away. “I’m Uravity, and I should be his pick because I’m someone that’ll keep him on his toes.”
In your dreams, Round Face, Katsuki thought, though kept his face neutral while Nemuri switched to the second contestant.
“What an honor it is to have me on your show.” Katsuki had to bite his inner cheek to keep from groaning at Monoma’s dramatic entrance. “The name’s Phantom Thief, and I am truly the best pick for anyone to date. But we’d make a hot couple, so this should be a simple decision.”
“Oh, how confident!” Nemuri didn’t blink an eye at his ridiculousness, nodding along like she agreed. “But we have one more person fighting for Katsuki’s hand. Contestant number three, let’s hear from you.”
“Oh, um, thank you!” The voice was lighter than he expected, but the slight hesitation and fumbling screamed ‘nerd’. “Hi, I’m Deku. It’s nice to meet you all. A-And I don’t just mean Katsuki! Uravity, your work makes me cry every time. I’m so excited for your new project! And Mo—I mean, Phantom Thief. I can’t get through any of your stuff without needing someone to sleep over. You really should have won that award last year for sure.”
Katsuki hadn’t expected Deku’s awareness of his fellow contestants. Ochaco was pretty popular in the romance genre, but not a name that a random guy would know from sight alone. Monoma was far off the map; most people in the industry didn’t even know him. He wondered if Deku was simply a movie buff, and his enjoyment of the film world caused him to stumble over Katsuki.
So, maybe less of a stalker than I thought.
“Alright, aren’t they a lovely bunch?” After waiting for the audience to show their excitement, Nemuri leaned over and handed Katsuki a small pile of cards. “Now, you’ll have five questions to get to know your options, then they’ll get to ask you one question. After that, it’ll be up to you to pick your future soulmate. Time to watch the hearts fly, everyone!”
“Stop being so corny,” Katsuki muttered, grunting when she knocked her elbow a little too hard into his bicep. Sending the flamboyant woman a glare, Katsuki turned his attention back to the flashcards. “First question, extras. What’s a hobby that you have that people wouldn’t expect looking at you?”
“Oh, that’s a good one.” Ochaco would find something so basic compelling. Holding back his eye-roll, he waited for her answer. “Well, if I had to take a guess, I don’t think anyone would assume I hold a medal for competitive mochi eating.”
“What the hell?” He’d known her for years and had never heard about the strange fact.
She laughed at the disbelief. “Yup. Been in the business for six years, but I won my first one just last summer. You’d be amazed how much mochi I can eat in under ten minutes. Especially matcha!”
“Sounds like you could eat Katsuki out of house and home,” Monoma said, a hint of implication under his tone before he hurried to turn the focus onto himself. “Despite my normal job being in a different part of the industry, I can also act. If the camera could truly capture my beauty the right way, I might have been your co-star.”
“How is that a hobby?” Katsuki asked, then rubbed the bridge of his nose when Monoma only sighed dramatically. “Ugh, whatever. Deku, you better not say something basic like watching movies.”
“Oh, no! Well, I do love films, but I talk way too much about that for it to be unexpected.” Something Deku did on the other side of the divider made the crowd laugh, quirking Katsuki’s brow. The reminder that Deku was the only one Katsuki couldn’t put a face to hadn’t bothered him until now. “Actually, when I’m not making a plan for my class, I love rock-climbing.”
“Seriously?” Katsuki leaned his elbows onto his knees while he cocked his head. “Wouldn’t expect someone who sounds like a nerd to like something so physical.”
“Ah, I mean, I guess you’re not wrong about that. Most people would call me a nerd.” The softness of Deku’s laugh hid something that screamed for Katsuki to explore. “But that made me bulk up a bit when I got into college, and now I’ve kind of got a sleeper build? I’m not your size! You’re so—anyway. My body’s leaner with compact muscles, which works for rock climbing and cliff jumping.”
“So Deku’s a little adrenaline junkie.” And shared a common interest with Katsuki. “What’s your favorite climbing spot?”
“Mine? There’s a lot of good ones around here, but I like the cliffs near my mom’s house. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, and there’s a cool waterfall that’s safe enough to jump into. It’s nothing intense or groundbreaking, but most people don’t know about the place. I like the natural feel of it.”
“You sound like a flower child.”
“I don’t know if that’s an insult or a compliment.”
Katsuki wasn’t sure himself.
“Alright, fascinating answers!” Nemuri clapped her hands together, nudging Katsuki. “Why don’t you get to the next question. This one needs a little more creativity.”
“I doubt it.” Still, he tossed the first card away, turning his attention to the new question. “If you could have a superpower, what would you pick?”
“Uravity, do you need a minute to answer?”
“No, I’ve got it. Thank you, Ms. Nemuri.” Even without seeing her, Katsuki knew Ochaco was probably trying to bow in her seat. “I feel like most powers would just cause me more problems, so I’d want something I could use in my life practically. It’d be pretty cool to have a gravity quirk to make it easier to move, or to carry all my grocery bags when I’m walking back to my house.”
“How the hell are you gonna be a hero with that lame-ass power?” Katsuki asked, Ochaco’s huff seeping through the wall.
“It doesn’t say superhero. It just asked about the power.”
“If you have the power to be a hero, why wouldn’t you? That’s just boring!”
“You won’t be saying that when I drop a house on you.”
The bickering felt like old times in their younger years, Katsuki smirking while making a fist. “Bring it, Kirby. I’d knock you back to earth without breaking a sweat.”
“Katsuki, dear.” Nemuri’s smile barely twitched when her hand patted his shoulder. “Let’s not threaten to beat up your potential soulmate, okay?”
The stupid question lost its appeal with the new stipulation, making his scowl. “Alright, Ghost Robber—”
“Phantom Thief.”
“Whatever. Tell me what power you’d pick. From the name, you’d probably want to be invisible to rob people or something.”
“Actually, my skill would be much more powerful. Something that would never be matched in its greatness,” Monoma answered, a cockiness that rivaled Katsuki’s filling his tone. “I would want a copycat power. One that would allow me to copy anyone’s superpower that I came across and use it for whatever I needed. It would make me unstoppable!”
“Yeah, until you come across a power that takes skill.” Katsuki waved off the basic thinking, sighing while he leaned his chin into his palm. “Didn’t you learn a damn thing from Avatar? Kid got all the elements, and nearly killed himself and his friends cause he had no idea how to use ‘em. Having a power and having the ability to use the power as a hero are two different things. I bet you wouldn’t take the time to research the people you were stealing from first to know the consequences of the power.”
“You don’t know what I’d do.”
“Ain’t hard to figure it out.”
“Actually, your power could be really cool if you worked with someone who had a superpower database,” Deku chimed in, hoping to help the hypothetical situation. “Something like a Pokédex, where you could quickly scan the person and have the data on the strengths and drawbacks of the power. That way, you don’t have to worry about stealing something that could end up hurting you or putting others in danger.”
“Wow.” Monoma’s pause reeked of intended dramatic effect. “You really are a nerd.”
“I think it’s kind of sweet that he’s trying to be your wingman,” Ochaco replied. “Maybe I’d have Deku work with me if I became a superhero. He could probably help me think of some ways to make my gravity power more powerful.”
“Oh, thanks. Actually, if you could get some equipment to help you float while using your power—”
“Oi!” Katsuki cut through Deku’s reply, unsure why his sudden focus on Ochaco made Katsuki’s annoyance grow. “You’re not making a dumb superhero club. And Deku didn’t even say what his power would be.”
“Right, sorry.” Deku’s quick apology came with a hum, showing he was taking the game-show seriously. “There’s just so many options to pick from. How can you settle on one and not recognize you’ll always be at a disadvantage in certain situations? There are the basic ones, like super strength, amplifying powers, or some sort of foresight ability. Flying would make my morning commute easier! And the kids would love something magical like a… a smokescreen! But then again, the more unique ones tend to have more versatility. I’d love an energy-slinging quirk, sort of like Spider-Man’s webs. It’s not the flashiest power, but being creative with it makes it invaluable. If I could get it to act like extra arms—”
“You could literally talk about this for hours, huh?” Despite meaning it as an insult, Katsuki felt his lips lifting into a smirk. Deku didn’t hide his nerdiness; he wore it like a badge of honor. And somehow, seeing someone so confident in their interests felt refreshing. Katsuki lived in a world where being popular was the way to survive. But Deku’s openness, and lack of care over being perceived, was a breath of fresh air.
“You wouldn’t struggle to pick one?” Deku asked, and Katsuki shook his head despite the partition being between them.
“I’d have an explosion power.”
“What, like… dynamite?” Monoma laughed with no humor. “Nobody who’s a hero wants to destroy things. You’d scare all the civilians away.”
“Yeah, that actually sounds more like a villain’s superpower,” Ochaco said, Katsuki scoffing at their narrow-minded perspective.
But it was Deku who came to his defense. “Actually, there are lots of superheroes who have powers that most wouldn’t think of as heroic. Hulk, Raven, Dante, Hellboy. Lots of people with demonic powers use it for good over evil. I think Katsuki has the right mindset to do a lot of good with that power. If anyone could make it work, it’s him.”
“Exactly.” Deku’s confidence in him warmed his chest. Sensing a strange uptick in his heartbeat, Katsuki shook his head and glanced down at the next question, not bothering to read ahead. “I’m an actor, so my hours are crazy, and I’m not home a lot. How would you—what the fuck? I’m not asking that!”
“Aw, don’t be shy. We’re all adults here.” Nemuri snatched the card despite Katsuki’s protest, reading with a tone that dripped sexual implication. “How would you keep the ‘spark’ alive with a long-distance partner?”
The crowd’s giggles and catcalls were expected, and Katsuki tried to ignore the heat on the back of his ears. No, he wasn’t a prude. He had needs the same as anyone else. But he wasn’t like Denki or Hanta, who loudly proclaimed the things that got them hot under the collar. Katsuki liked to keep his intimate life between himself and whomever he eventually planned to share it with.
With the cat out of the bag, he couldn’t exactly shut the question down.
“Oh, wow. That’s jumping right in.” Despite the stalling, Ochaco needed only a couple seconds to give her answer. “Well, if my partner’s always on the move, then I’d want to give them something to remind them of me. Maybe I’d sneak in something I plan to wear for them when they come back. Just so it’s on their mind anytime they look at their luggage.”
Didn’t think she’d have the guts to actually answer, Katsuki thought, though he respected her for not playing the ‘shy girl’ stereotype. From the girls cheering in the audience, they agreed.
“I can’t imagine how they’d get any work done with that reminder in their suitcase,” Nemuri said, winking at the camera. “Alright, Phantom Thief. What’s your plan?”
“As if I’d wait for them to come back.” Completely at ease with the topic, Monoma almost purred with his ‘battle plan.’ “My lover will get some special visits from their favorite person. Might be fun what locations we can get away with.”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me,” Katsuki said, knowing Monoma loved being in the spotlight. Getting caught in a risky position was probably his dream. How he was hooking up with that sleep-deprived talent agent, Katsuki wasn’t sure.
“Play your cards right, and you might get the best surprise.”
“Pass.” He ignored the audience’s laugh, fingers tapping without reason against his inner thigh when clearing his throat. “I’m missing an answer, Nerd.”
He expected sputtering, or some mumbled response that Katsuki would have to drag out. His attention snapped away from planning how to coax out the answer when Deku spoke. “Intimacy is tough when we’re so far apart, but I actually like the challenge of… connecting despite the distance. I want to make you feel loved no matter where we are. And, well, I’m a bit of a talker, so if you were okay with us talking over the phone—”
“Holy shit.” Katsuki couldn’t stop his laughter, which masked a hot blooming in his stomach. He wondered if his voice sounded lower to anyone else when his tease slipped out. “You wanna dirty talk me, huh?”
“It’s just how I would answer the question!” Deku argued, and there was that hint of modesty he expected before. “You’re the one adding your own spin to it. Maybe you’re the one who likes th-thinking about me like that.”
The spark of fight back proved Deku wasn’t some doormat. Without realizing it, Katsuki found himself leaning into each conversation shared with the stranger. Most people walked on eggshells around him, polite and always trying to stay on Katsuki’s good side. He knew that his status made it hard for someone to challenge him. So having Deku, despite his kind demeanor and less aggressive personality, quickly snap back at Katsuki’s teasing…
It was kind of hot.
“Alright, let’s cool things down a bit.” Nemuri brought Katsuki out of his head, plucking the next flashcard from his grip. “Question number four: What’s one thing you’d like to work on for yourself?”
He almost forgot the audience was there until the ‘oohs’ echoed in the studio.
“That’s easier. I’ve been working on speaking about things that matter to me without other people pushing me into doing it.” Ochaco’s answer came out clear and concise, sounding more like a treatment plan than a personal reflection. But there was something about the conviction in her goal that he had to respect.
Monoma, however, didn’t surprise him. “Why would you fix something that’s perfect?”
“If your head were any bigger, you wouldn’t fit in the studio,” Katsuki said, eye twitching at the other’s hum.
“Confidence is a skill. Some people find it sexy.”
“When you can back it up.”
“We could always find out after the cameras shut off.” Whatever Monoma did on his side of the partition earned the crowd’s whistles.
Before Katsuki could tell him where he could shove his offer, Deku spoke up. “That’s pushy, and Katsuki doesn’t seem to like it. And besides, isn’t it my turn to answer?”
“Oh, look at Deku go.” Nemuri laughed along with the claps of the audience. “Looks like our damsel has a knight in shining armor.”
“You’re too into this.” Katsuki scrunched his nose when she only adjusted her glasses and winked at him, turning away to look at the partition. “Alright, spit it out. What do you want to work on, Deku?”
“Actually, I’m doing it right now.” The cadence lacked any flair, but the earnest emotion shone through to hook Katsuki’s full attention. “Most of my life, I’ve never really put myself first. I want all the people around me happy, even if it means letting go of things I hoped for. My students, colleagues, friends, and family get everything I can offer.
“And recently, I’ve realized I’m going through the motions of living without experiencing anything for myself. I don’t want to look back and regret letting every opportunity go because I’m too worried about everyone else’s needs. Something had to change. So, my first step of doing that was entering this contest. And I know I probably won’t be what you’re looking for, but it’s okay. So long as I did something I wanted, then I’m happy I got the chance to meet you. It’s a win either way.”
The audience didn’t miss a beat, cooing over Deku’s open-hearted confession. Katsuki hated admitting that his heart clenched after the bittersweet words. Why did he care about this stranger’s quiet struggle? He’d never seen the guy, but he wondered what support he’d have after Katsuki shut him down. Would his friends see the show? Did he even tell them about winning the spot? Learning about Deku, yet missing so much information, left him unsettled in his seat.
If Nemuri noticed any of his discomfort, her bright voice filling the space didn’t show it. “Alright everyone! Last question from our favorite actor. Katsuki?”
“Tch.” With half his brain stuck on the last question, he didn’t bother complaining about the order. “Describe your dream first date.”
“I don’t want something traditional. Not for the first one, at least,” Ochaco answered, sighing like she was remembering previous failed dates. “I’d love to go to a martial arts event. Maybe grab some fast food after debating who was the best fighter. That’d be really fun.”
“Not too bad,” Katsuki agreed, the audience clapping with their support.
Nemuri joined in right after. “Lovely answer, Uravity. Now, contestant two?”
“Nothing beats a wine tasting in the valley.” Monoma didn’t mince words when explaining. “I show off my lovely date, they get to spoil me rotten, and we all leave a little happier than we were at the start. It’s a win for everyone, honestly.”
“Sounds about right.” But, just like Ochaco’s, he couldn’t say the offer was boring. He could get behind a classier evening with the right person. Without reason, his mind quickly shifted to the last person. “What about you, Nerd?”
“Mine’s nothing fancy,” was the man’s response, a sheepish laugh following. “There’s a place in town that does cooking adventures for couples. They give the pair a basket of ingredients, and three different recipes of varying levels of difficulty. The couple has to work together to make an edible dinner to share for the night. From what I’ve heard, the pairs that can do the hardest recipe have the best chance of getting a second date.”
“You don’t sound like the cooking kind,” Katsuki teased, just to hear Deku sputter in protest.
“I cook all the time! My mom loves home-cooked meals, and I’ve been trained by a professional chef who—ah, nevermind. Too much information.”
No it's not, Katsuki thought, pressing his lips tighter together. Tell me more about you, idiot. I wanna know—
He sucked in a sharp breath, using his acting skills to hide his surprise. Every time Deku opened his mouth, Katsuki felt himself wanting to know more. It was an insane reaction to someone he’d only known for twenty minutes. He didn’t even have the man’s real name! Frustrated at the lack of logic, he stubbornly tried to ignore his racing heart when Nemuri took over again.
“Let’s give it up for our amazing contestants! They’re all lovely, right? Now, before Katsuki makes his choice, the three potential soulmates get to ask him one question. Choose your question wisely, cause it may be your last chance to sway his heart.”
“God, you’re so weird,” Katsuki muttered under his breath, still questioning how his life had ended him up on the strange show.
“A question I’ve always wanted Katsuki to answer?” Out of the three, Ochaco was the one he worried about the most. She knew far too much about him personally, and if she wanted to use some of his less-than-stellar moments against him, he’d have to play along. He couldn’t blow up at her, or else the viewers would know about their previous friendship. “Would you ever do a romance movie?”
“Hah?” Floored she’d use the moment to her benefit, Katsuki’s brow twitched at the squeals of the fans in the audience. She’d been trying to get him to star in one of her lame movies for years, and wanted to get the crowd’s backing to support the offer. “If the script was good enough.”
“Good to know.” She sounded far too smug about her answer, and he silently vowed to chew her out after.
Monoma’s question was far less subtle. “You’ve got perfect skin despite your sweaty movies. I need your routine.”
“That’s not even a question!”
“Fine. What is your skincare routine?”
“What the—whatever. I use a volcanic clay mask and a glycolic acid exfoliator. Look em up on Amazon. Happy?”
“As a clam.” And from how satisfied Monoma sounded, he really was.
Biting back his groan, Katsuki let out a silent huff through his nose. “Don’t think you’re gonna top that one, Deku.”
“I’ll try my best.” Deku cleared his throat, voice softer than before. “In interviews, you say you’ve never wanted to do anything other than acting. And after seeing your skill, I can see why. But, when you’re not working, what do you do for self-care?”
“You asking for yourself?”
“Yes. I mean, no!” Deku rushed out the correction like it was life or death. “It’s for me, but not to use. I just wanted to make sure you’re giving yourself time to have fun. You’re such a hard-worker, and I love your movies. But, I don’t want you to give your time and energy to everyone but yourself. If you do, you’ll burn out. And I don’t want you to be like… me.”
“I’m not that stupid,” Katsuki replied, but after letting Deku’s concern dance around in his head, he threw him a bone. Feeling his lips tilt into a smirk, he spoke again. “I like to cook.”
“Oh.” A mixture of surprise and fondness made Deku’s voice a little breathless. “I’m sure you’re amazing.”
“Probably could ace the hardest recipe at your little date cafe,” he replied, wondering if Deku would read between the lines.
Sadly, Nemuri didn’t give him the chance. “With that conclusive answer, we’re finally at the end of Katsuki’s romantic road. Now, big guy, tell us which of our adorable contestants won their blind date with you?”
There wasn’t supposed to be a choice. Emi already said Ochaco was prepared to win the game-show. Then they had a sound plan, perfectly scheduled to best balance his fan’s excitement and following disappointment when the relationship ‘fell apart’. And despite his aggressive nature and independent streak, Katsuki knew how to play a role. It was why people paid him to perform in their movies.
But sometimes, going off-script was worth the risk.
“Fuck it.” Standing up, he turned to the partition, not knowing what would be waiting on the other side. “Show me the damn nerd.”
“W-Wow!” For the first time all night, Nemuri almost fell out of her character, though quickly composed herself. “Did I hear that right? The winner you chose is—”
“Deku.” Without permission, his grin formed around the nickname. “I choose Deku.”
Then, like magic, the wall between them dropped. Ochaco and Monoma barely got a glance, taking in their surprised expressions before shifting to the only person he didn’t know.
Deku was adorable. With wide green eyes and matching wavy strands, Deku stumbled out of his seat with a gaping mouth. Freckles covered his cheeks, though they were hard to see under his blush. His earlier claim of a compact body matched the lean frame, Katsuki’s hands twitching with the desire to trace the thighs hidden under the ugliest pants he’d ever seen. Despite the fashion disaster, Deku was perfect.
“M-Me?” Even as the crowd screamed their excitement, and Katsuki casually strolled to stand in front of him, Deku couldn’t seem to wrap his head around his new reality. “You… you picked me?”
“Guess I did.” With a casual hand sliding onto Deku’s back, he dragged the nerd closer, leaning down to brush his words over chapped lips. “But only if you give me your real name.”
“Izuku,” came out instantly, hands littered with tiny scars hesitantly reaching up to grab Katsuki’s jacket. “I’m Izuku Midoriya.”
“Alright, Izuku Midoriya. Last question.” He could already hear Aizawa’s sigh. Could see the videos and posts trending all over social media. But he didn’t care about any of that. Not when he had a blushing nerd waiting patiently for him to speak again. “You gonna make me wait for our first date to kiss you?”
Izuku sucked in a shaky breath, already leaning on his toes as he whispered. “No.”
And the moment their lips met, Katsuki knew the truth. The world, after seeing Katsuki cup the round cheek and kiss him breathless, would love Izuku Midoriya.
And from how Izuku melted into the kiss, Katsuki had a feeling he wouldn’t need Emi’s breakup plan.