It was only just after sunrise when Kirishima got out of bed to find an envelope on the floor just inside the door to his dorm room. Rubbing a sleepy eye, he knelt down and lifted it. Across the front of it, written in black ink and all messy caps, was his name.

Kirishima Eijirou

A smile tugged at his lips at the aggressive script that could only be one person's. After a quick trip to the bathroom to relieve himself and splash some water on his face to wake himself up, he plopped back down onto his bed and, still grinning, untucked the flap of the envelope and slid out the folded up pieces of notebook paper stored inside. Before he even had it unfolded, he knew what it was, and he couldn't really think of something better to wake up to on his birthday.

And yup, it was a letter, scribbled in Bakugou's slightly messy handwriting. His smile widened as he leaned back against the wall, smoothing the paper out on his leg and settling in to read.

Another year without dying. Good on you. Yours is one of increasingly fewer birthdays I approve of. Here's a dumb list I stayed up like all night trying to write - sixteen reasons why I love your dumb (and irritatingly cute) ass, one for every year you've existed. So... yeah. Go nuts.

-Your dumb hair. I don't get why I like it so much but I do. It suits you.

-Those damn pointy teeth of yours. Even though they hurt sometimes, they also suit you, especially with what your Quirk is.

-That giant, dumb smile of yours with all those stupid teeth showing. It's like a freaking light of its own that touches everybody around it. Don't stop smiling or I'll punch your teeth out.

-Those big, disgustingly gorgeous eyes of yours. So many idiots around here have red eyes but yours are like little suns in your face and are so much softer and brighter than everybody else's, especially mine, and they say a lot about you. Plus your eyelashes are really long and even though your eyebrows are awkwardly small, they're cute. And the scar is one of my favorite fucking things ever and was like the first thing I noticed about you. Well, except for that ridiculous hair of yours.

-Your fighting spirit. I'm so fucking glad we got to go up against each other in the sports festival and even though I won, it showed me just what a determined fighter you are. Showed our Quirks are pretty compatible, too. It showed me how much damn potential you have as a future hero and I'll be damned if you don't fucking graduate as one of the top in our class. That fight was one of the best of that whole event, and anyone who disagrees can fucking die.

-Going off of that - your drive to be a great hero even though for some reason you doubted yourself like the idiot you are in the past. Sure your Quirk might not be the 'flashiest' or whatever, but it's manly as fuck. You're so damn good at working with people, too, which makes your potential even greater. You're gonna save a lot of fucking people and win a lot. So don't give up or WE can fight about it.

-You don't take bullshit, especially mine. I know i'm an asshole (and honestly I don't give a fuck) but you're always the first one to call me out on it (unless Pikachu gets to it first). You got no reason to apologize for me 'cause you're not the one who provokes people and shit, so I don't get why you do it. But I like that you won't just blindly accept the shit I say and all that. Plus you don't let anybody else get away with any kind of shit, either - like that disgustingly perverted grape. It's good, so don't stop.

-One of the biggest things I admire about you is your will to get the fuck back up on your feet when you've fallen, like when you won against Tetsutetsu during the Sports Festival. When you found the will to come to UA in the first place. When you got hurt during the fight with that asshole during your internship with FatGum. Even when you didn't get a few of your exam failures stand in your way. I know you've got some insecurities (that are complete bullshit, if you ask me; you shouldn't have any reasons to be down on yourself ever), but you overcome them. And that's manly as fuck.

-Somehow, you see all our classmates and shit as equals and treat them like it, too. You're gonna have to explain to me how you see some of these weaklings as someone equal to or greater than you. But it's admirable because you don't underestimate anybody, so that's what helps you persevere. It's probably a spot where i'm weak as shit, as much as I hate to admit it. You don't, though, and again, it's one of those things that's gonna make you a fucking amazing hero.

- The way you're willing to risk things - including yourself - for something you believe is right. I never told you this, but I really fucking admire you for what you did to come save me when that bastard shigaraki kidnapped me. Seriously, I was relieved as shit when I saw you and the other two losers all the way up there and calling out to me. I said it was just because you were the only escape route I had, but I'm grateful you were there even if it meant risking your enrollment status at the school and possibly your future as a hero. Doing shit like that is what makes you hero material - more than me, because fuck if I know if I'd done the same thing. I get you're my boyfriend and that's a big part of the reason you did it, but knowing you you probably would've done it if we weren't together. Which is fucking amazing. So thanks.

-Even when things get batshit crazy, you manage to stay positive. I know to some of these assholes it doesn't seem like it, but I know you well enough that I'm sure of this. Doesn't matter how absolutely shitty things around you are; you've got all that shit I mentioned before working for you plus your positive attitude, and that's yet another damn thing that works in your favor.

-Just how supportive you are of your friends and me. It's unwavering and almost scarily stubborn. I can't even count how many times you were on the sidelines when it was my turn and I heard you cheering me on. You do it for others, too. You believe in people. You see the best in everybody, including me. I already know I'm strong as fuck and have a Quirk that surpasses most of the idiots in this school, but somehow you even managed to pull out some sort of other strength I have without even me realizing it. I fucking needed that. Seriously. I need YOU. So thank you for that.

-Going off of that, you have this crazy amount of admiration for others, too, and you bring out their strengths in doing so, too. You're always watching and learning from people but praising them, too, calling them 'manly' and shit - which is probably the highest kind of compliment they can get coming from you. You probably don't think I pay attention, but I'm pretty sure they benefit from your weird positivity and admiration. You inspire people, me especially. And shit, you're probably too damn good for this entire world.

-But there's a fuckton to admire about YOU, too. Like the fact that you manage to constantly overcome your weaknesses and doubts about yourself. Again, I don't get why you have them because you're so much stronger than you realize, but even though your own brain sometimes tells you you're not strong enough, that your Quirk isn't good enough, that you're not hero material (yeah, I pay attention, Eijirou) and whatever bullshit it might spew at you, you keep standing back up against it. That doubt is probably the biggest and most persistent villain you'll ever face, but you're gonna kick its ass and keep kicking its ass until it can't fight back anymore. I know it. And I'm gonna help you do it, because you deserve so much better than whatever it tells you.

-I know i've said this a million times - hell, I've said it in this cheesy as fuck letter already, but I fucking love and admire just how strong you really are. You get your ass out there and you do your best to win. Nobody's Quirk excels in both offense and defense quite like yours does, which makes it scary strong. You should be more proud of it because I sure as fuck am.

-And all that shit I already mentioned makes you one of the most human people I've ever met. You're so goddamn down to earth and sincere in everything you do and say. Shit, you remind me what it means to be human. When you feel things, you feel them deeply - the good shit and the bad. You experience the world deeply and heavily. You're honest and genuine. You make mistakes and you admit to them, and then you keep going. You hurt sometimes, and even when it's clear you don't wanna let anybody in to help you, you still let me try (even though I know I suck ass at it).

-The last but sure as fuck not least thing I love about you is that freaking heart of gold you have that can somehow put up with my bullshit every day and stays with me in spite of it all. I don't get how the fuck you do it, ei, but I'm pretty sure your second Quirk is that damn heart of yours, and I'm grateful as fuck for it. Seriously. I don't fucking deserve you but here you are. I never thought I'd find someone who'd be willing to put up with my bullshit. Hell, my own parents get tired of me sometimes. But that pure heart of yours doesn't even seem to waver when I'm being my regular asshole self. I don't fucking know how I got so lucky or what I might've done to deserve to even have a friend like you, let alone a boyfriend and someone I've fallen in love with, but I swear to fucking god I'm going to do everything in my power to try and make you feel even half as happy as you make me.

Anyway. Hopefully you don't break up with me after this tacky list. Basically I'm too chicken shit to say this to your face, but I love you. So yeah. Have a happy birthday. That's an order, maggot.

-Bakugou Katsuki

There were tears pooling in the corners of Kirishima's eyes by the time he finished reading. His smile had remained the whole time his eyes skimmed over the words. He read the whole thing three times before he found it within himself to wipe his eyes and fold the letter back up to gently slide back into the envelope. He didn't bother with getting dressed or even putting on slippers before he left his room and swung an immediate left to knock on Bakugou's door, his heart rate elevated and his whole body tingling with elation.

He expected Bakugou to take a second to answer and grumble at him when he did open the door, but it was almost immediately after his knuckles tapped the wood that it cracked open and Bakugou peeked out. As soon as he saw who was beyond the threshold, he pulled it open the rest of the way.

"He—mmph!" He mumbled the beginning of an uncharacteristically shy greeting when Kirishima stepped in, pulled Bakugou toward him by the hips, and kissed him without relent. The other staggered a bit at the unexpected contact before somewhat hesitantly kissing back. "The... the fuck was that for?" he mumbled when Kirishima finally pulled back.

"Thank you for the letter, Katsuki," Kirishima practically cooed with a smile that seemed to singlehandedly pull the sun from its nest below the horizon.

"Right..." Bakugou grumbled, sending a hand through his own hair and disheveling it more than it already was. "Uh... happy birthday, or whatever."

"Thanks, bro." Once again he leaned forward, and Bakugou didn't reject the kiss to his cheek. "How come you're up so early, anyway? I didn't expect you to open the door so fast."

"Didn't sleep," Bakugou told him, reaching around him to shut the door that'd been left open in the wake of Kirishima's rather aggressive (though affectionate) thank you.

"How come?"

"...I was too damn nervous about that stupid letter, okay?!" Bakugou huffed, turning his back to the other and shuffling toward his balcony doors. "I put it under your door at like midnight 'cause I was too chicken shit to give it to you face to face and I didn't know when the hell you were gonna wake up and find it, so I couldn't get the fuck to sleep."

"Aww, Bakugouuu," Kirishima sang with a laugh, coming up behind the other, and slid his arms gently around the other's slim waist. "You had to know I was gonna love it, man. You know me."

"Shut up, Shitty Hair," grumbled Bakugou. "You'd be nervous, too."

"True," Kirishima agreed, resting his chin atop the other's shoulder. "But I couldn't have asked for something better to wake up to."

"Hmph. And I thought the damn letter was cheesy as fuck."

Kirishima's chuckle was quiet as he stood up straight again. "Anyway, we should probably get ready for class."

"Yeah, yeah," Bakugou mumbled through a yawn.

"Meet me in the common area when you're ready?" Kirishima asked.

"Obviously."

Bakugou was the one to initiate this kiss, and while it was light and quick, something about it left Kirishima's head in a blissful fog the entire time he was getting dressed.

~

Kirishima was more than a little distracted throughout the day, what with the letter seemingly burning a hole in his back pocket. Earlier that morning he'd just been ecstatic that Bakugou had been so thoughtful and he'd woken up to something so sweet, but the more he thought about it—the more he read it, because he had at least once whenever he had a break—the more flustered he felt. Bakugou... using this letter, had told him he loved him. And Kirishima hadn't immediately told him he loved him back. Hadn't said it the second Bakugou opened the door for him that morning. He felt silly as hell for not getting that sooner. Neither of them had ever said it before. They hadn't been together quite a year yet and he sure as hell didn't want to take things too quickly.

And, honestly, he always thought he'd be the one to say it first.

But it didn't matter. Bakugou Katsuki loved him, and in knowing that he felt, too, down to his very bones, that he loved Bakugou Katsuki right back with everything within him. All he had left to do was tell him.

Once he figured that out, the rest of the day felt like it was dragging on. Fortunately it was a practical studies day so he didn't have this whole thing distracting him from anything physically demanding, but that only meant that he was having trouble focusing on things he was already bad at, like math and English.

When the end of the school day finally did come to an end, he was one of the first out of his seat and ready to make a beeline for his boyfriend. As soon as he had his things packed up enough and was halfway over to Bakugou, most of the class was already on their way out.

"So these other losers have someshit planned for you down in the common area," Bakugou mumbled as soon as he came over with a thumb jabbed over his shoulder, the other hand holding onto the strap of his bag.

"Who are 'these other losers'?" Kirishima asked.

"Kaminari and Sero. I think Pinky and Round Face and Deku are there, too. Don't ask me what the fuck they're doing 'cause they refused to tell me."

"Oh. Alright."

Dammit, Kirishima silently cursed himself as he trailed behind Bakugou out of the class. Of course he was being a chicken now! And Bakugou was probably feeling even weirder about the letter because Kirishima hadn't said anything about the whole I love you part of it. This was so not manly of him!

With a thick swallow after making sure no one around was within earshot or paying attention, he asked, "Hey, Katsuki?"

"Hm?" grunted the other.

"Uhm... did—did you mean to write seventeen reasons on the letter instead of sixteen?" Ah, hell, I'm totally blowing this.

Bakugou's eyes cut straight to the other. "What? No, there are sixteen, you idiot."

Kirishima was already tugging the letter out of his back pocket. "No, man," he said, momentarily distracted. "I counted like ten times to make sure and got seventeen every time."

Halfway through pulling the letter itself from the envelope, Bakugou stopped and snatched it, letting everybody else walk by them. He unfolded it with a hard frown set across his brow and his eyes skidded down the side of the paper where the little dashes indicated each reason. He counted, and then counted again. And then a third time. His fingers were holding the edges of the page so tightly that it was clear what was coming, and before his Quirk could turn the thing to ashes, Kirishima managed to pry it from his fingers.

Without a single word (and a certain amount of flusteredness he was unable to hide given away in the crease in his brow, the slight purse of his lips), Bakugou turned and started to storm off. A chuckle bubbled out of Kirishima's chest and he had no trouble catching up, stuffing the letter back into his pocket as he went. Bakugou didn't even try shrugging him off as Kirishima's left arm hooked around his neck, and he didn't pull away when his cheek was kissed (though Kirishima knew he would have had anyone still been around).

"By the way, Katsuki," Kirishima said affectionately, "I love you, too."