Words: 3,376 - I just have to say, this is probably the best One-shot/story/short story I have ever written. I am very proud of this one!

     Why... 

     Why did the flowers grow?

     Under his skin like a pillow.

     His skin was the pillow cover.

     his lungs the pillow, and on the inside were flowers that grew because they longed for a loved one. The love they possible may never have. It wasn't fair. These flower petals would grow and make their way up through his esophagus and out his mouth. It was accompanied by a little bit of blood. It started out little, it was just a small cough and sore through and chest. As time went by, the the pain grew worse and as well did the coughing fits. Mr. Aizawa and All Might (Toshinori Yagi) knew that this boy had the disease. It would have been illegal if they didn't know about it. Inko Midoriya knew about this, obviously, why wouldn't she know that her son was dying? The only people who didn't know was class 1-A. Todoroki had his suspicion because he was anything except stupid. It would take an idiot, like Denki Kaminari, to not have common sense.

     It was a typical school day, well... As typical as it could be. Everyone was in class and Izuku wasn't looking horrible, but he certainly didn't look good. He was pale, and his lips were a little dry. He had barley visible dark circles under his eyes, but his cute green fluffy hair was as bright as ever. Lot's of classmates looked over the fact that he wasn't exactly himself anymore. All except Katsuki Bakugo, Shoto Todoroki, Tenya Iida, and Ochaco Uraraka. They were currently in class, listening to Mr. Aizawa talk about combat training. Izuku tried to listen the best he can but trying not to cough was what he was really worried about 24/7. Every time he coughed nobody really looked at him except for Mr. Aizawa. Shota Aizawa wasn't mad, not at the slightest. He was really concerned for him and would glance at him making sure he was okay. Izuku and Aizawa had a deal. Whenever Izuku needed to leave he was allowed to leave without saying anything. Everyone would wonder why, but Mr. Aizawa would think nothing of it because he knew why he was leaving.

     "Alright everyone, go to the changing rooms and dress into your hero outfits! We are training outside in teams and going against one another" Mr. Aizawa says. Everyone starts to leave but it seemed like one person was staying behind, Izuku. No one seemed to notice except Uraraka and Katsuki. Mr. Aizawa was in the room and waited for everyone to leave. Katsuki purposely stayed behind everyone else, it was so out of character for him, but he had the urge to do so. "How are you feeling today, Midoriya?"

     "Worse, but... I'll manage..." Izuku says sighing a staggered breath and pulling his mask down from his mouth. Mr. Aizawa sighed audibly and looked at Izuku with sympathy and concern.

     "I'm not sure if I should let you train today..." Mr. Aizawa states putting his yellow sleeping bag in one corner of the room. Izuku visibly flinched and his mouth was wide open only to cause him to close him swiftly.

     "What? I need to train just like everyone else! I want to excel-" Izuku starts but gets cut off by the concerned-tired teacher.

     "You won't be able to if you don't take it easy, Izuku Midoriya," Izuku looks down trying to fight back the tears that pricked his eyes. Not just because of his physical pain but now his emotional pain.  "I do have an important question..." Aizawa states leaning on his desk keeping his hands on either side of it. Izuku looks up to meet his teachers gaze. "Are you going to get the surgery?"

     Izuku looks down and inhales deeply which causes a sharp pain in his chest and then he exhales feeling a bit relieved of the pain. "A part of me want's to but... I don't want to forget..." Izuku states closing his eyes trying to face his reality for what seemed like the millionth time. Aizawa nodded respectfully and in an understanding way.

     "Let me tell you a quick story before we head out" Izuku looks at Aizawa curiosity sparking his green orbs. "A woman about my age now... She didn't want surgery. She knew what was coming and she still didn't want it. She knew it would hurt the people she loved but she couldn't forget. I mean, she had every right in her decision. I would never blame her for it, but... It's at times like these we have to let the other know how much we care before it's too late."

     Izuku smiles thoughtfully at the short story. They start to head out and Izuku was obviously, the last person to enter the changing room. Almost everyone was already gone. Izuku was baffled to see, non other than Katsuki in the changing room. He assumed that he would no doubt be the first person out there, let alone the last one. Izuku started to change but he was coughing in the process. When he brought his hand to his mouth there was a bit of blood and Izuku started to panic. Katsuki, slowly watched him. Not in a creepy, stalker-ish way, but more of a concerned... Friend way, even though the two felt a little different when it came to them being friends. Izuku crouches on the ground not caring who would see. He mostly forgot that Katsuki was there because he was in his own head, trying to contemplate on how to go about the rest of his day. "Come on, Deku." Izuku jumped.

     "S-sorry Kacchan..." Izuku said quieter than how he would normally answer. The two walk out at separate times but not too far from each other. Some of the students went first until it was Izuku's team. He was teamed up with Kirishima, and he was against Katsuki and Asui. Izuku couldn't wear his mask, but he did have his hero mask, which should do him some good. Mr. Aizawa called him over and once again Katsuki subtly watched him from a distance as he was impatiently waiting for everything to start.

     "Are you sure you want to do this, Midoriya?" Mr. Aizawa asks lifting a brow. Izuku nodded his head, yes.

     "Yes, Aizawa-Sensei! This could... This could be the last time I get to do anything related to combat or using my quirk." Izuku says with determination in his voice. Mr. Aizawa smirked. He would surely miss that part of Izuku.

     "Okay... But if things get out of hand I'm calling it off, got it? I don't want you overdoing anything, and I am still responsible for you, considering you are my student, on my watch." Mr. Aizawa ushered him to Kirishima and the training started. Only Mr. Aizawa was allowed to watch their performance on a screen. The student would have to watch from a distance. Katsuki and Asui had planned a surprise attack, no surprise there. Kirishima and Izuku had suspected this, so they had made a plan if they ran into either of the two, soon to be heroes. Kirishima and Izuku split up going different routs not too far from each other. Izuku's mind wondered off. One curse about having the Hanahaki disease was that your mind would almost constantly think about your unrequited love. It was true. Izuku was madly in love with Katsuki Bakugo. 

     Izuku coughed but he tried to muffle it to make sure no one hear it. Mr. Aizawa was watching everyone carefully, especially Izuku. He doesn't always show it but he would die for this class. Katsuki was currently looking for Kirishima or Izuku. He didn't care who he found first, as long as he won. All he needed to do was immobilize them with tape and they would be out of the test. He didn't expect to hear such violent coughs when he reached a deserted corner. He knew exactly who it was, but he was a little curious on how they got so bad so quick. Katsuki couldn't help but hear how much he was struggling. You could hear the blood rise through his throat and something was blocking it. Katsuki couldn't take any more of the coughing so he turned the corner only to see Izuku resting his hand on one of the building walls, knees bent a little while his other hand clutches his chest. "Dek-" Katsuki didn't finish because he saw Izuku drop to his knees both hands now on the ground and he was coughing up blood.

     Katsuki rushed over kneeling down to Izuku's level placing a hand on his back looking at him. "Deku! What the hell?!" Katsuki says in bewilderment. He didn't know what was going on. Until... Until he saw it.

A petal.

Another petal.

And another...

     Orange rose petal's coated in blood were on the concrete ground right below Izuku's mouth. Katsuki knew exactly what this was, and he was honestly terrified. He knew the consequences. When he learned about it he payed extra attention to this subject. He would make sure not to fall in love, because he feared this exact thing would happen. Even if he did, this never would have happened to him. At least not in this lifetime. Student's started to watch the screen Mr. Aizawa was watching. They couldn't see Asui or Katsuki and Izuku. They did however, see Kirishima. Asui later came into view but Katsuki and Izuku didn't. Mr. Aizawa was a bit concerned and kept a close eye on everything. "Deku! Why the hell didn't you say anything?!" Katsuki practically screamed. He saw something else drop to the ground but it wasn't blood nor petals. They were tears.

     Izuku was crying. He coughed more and more petals came flying out as well as his thick blood. "How long has this-"

     "Three months-" Izuku says before coughing a lot more than before. That's all it takes for the Hanahaki disease to take it's course. Izuku was at the finish line. Katsuki knew it. Izuku knew it. Mr. Aizawa kind of knows it. Katsuki rubbed his back looking at Izuku for this first time. Yes, he has looked at him but now he was really looking at him. Everything that wasn't obvious before was. He took in every single detail that Izuku held.

     "Who is it?" Katsuki asks feeling a little angry and upset. Katsuki wanted Izuku to say it was him, but another part of him didn't because that would mean he put Izuku in this situation. It would have been his fault. Izuku didn't answer he only rolled to his side, his back now against the building. He was sitting next to the puddle of blood and orange petals. "Your getting the surgery," Katsuki says squatting in front of Izuku. Izuku suddenly froze and looked at Katsuki like he was crazy. How could the love of his life tell him to get a surgery that would make him forget about him. Izuku shakes his head and Katsuki looks at him oddly.

     "No..."

     "Yes! Yes, you are, I'm not letting you die." Katsuki says taking Izuku's shoulder him his hand. 

     Izuku slaps it away angrily. "That's not your choice!" Izuku excalims covering his mouth coughing more.

     "You would rather die, than forget the one you care about and still live?!" Katsuki says fuming greatly. Izuku nods his head. "No... You need to live and become a hero. Get the surgery, I'll pay for it." 

     "W-what?!" Izuku asks astounded.

     "I'll pay for the surgery, I have enough saved up." Katsuki says. Izuku was visibly dying at this point.

     "No..." Izuku says coughing up an insane amount of petals.

     "Why?!" Katsuki says trying to get Izuku to look at him. Izuku finally meets his gaze only to see that Katsuki was scared. Izuku's eyes were spilling waterfalls and his face was dusted pink.

     "I don't want to lose you..." Izuku says his eyes now half lidded, while his coughing was getting worse. It took Katsuki a minute to register what he said. I don't want to lose you? Katsuki wasn't the one dying so how could Izuku possibly lose him-

     "Wait... It's me? You love me and I've been putting you through hell these past three months without my acknowledgement?" Katsuki says. Izuku only giggles a hoarse laugh. "I need you to get the surgery..." Katsuki says Izuku only shakes his head. Katsuki lift's Izuku and bridal style carries him. Kirishima comes out of the blue with his eyes wide open.

      "What happened?!" Kirishima exclaims, very confused at the moment.

      "He has the Hanahaki disease. Find frog girl and tell her I'm surrendering" Katsuki says. Kirishima was mind-blown. The Katsuki Bakugou... Giving up? Kirishima didn't ask questions. He went to find Asui and he contacted Mr. Aizawa. Just as he did Katsuki was running out of the beta ground with Izuku in his arms. Everyone gasp's and Mr. Aizawa tells everyone to stay back and he runs over to them. Mr. Aizawa could tell Izuku was in pain. His face was a little scrunched up in discomfort. Mr. Aizawa called the ambulance and talk Katsuki to set him on the ground and Mr. Aizawa said to contact one of the teachers. Three students ran inside the building. "How could I not know..?" Katsuki says sitting down by Izuku softly stroking his hair.

     "I never made it obvious... It wasn't your fault, it was mine" Izuku says coughing in between his words. Mr. Aizawa had to secretly admit that this was a beautiful sight but it was a scary one as well. A star student was possibly going to die right before his eyes. As soon as other teachers rush out an ambulance arrives. Uraraka was in tears, as well as some other students. Todoroki let some tears fall finally knowing what was happening. Some students didn't know, but they were very upset. The ambulance bring our a gurney and transfer Izuku onto it. Izuku was in and out of consciousness at this point but when his eyes finally met with Katsuki's it was as if time slowed down. The only people that where there outside was them. Katsuki couldn't let this be the last time he saw Izuku alive. He wasn't a family member so he couldn't get onto the ambulance. That didn't stop him from threatening almost all of them and finally being able to ride with Izuku to the nearest hospital.

     The ride seemed to take hours, even though it was only five minutes. They rushed Izuku out into a room and Katsuki followed them. "Sorry kid, but you'll have to wait out here" Katsuki was breathing heavily and called his mom.

Phone call

Old Hag: Katsuki! Why the hell are you calling me during school hours?! Better yet, why are you calling me all of a sudden?

She says, with a little bit of concern.

Katsuki: Mom...

Mitsuki stops everything she's doing and sits down at the kitchen table holding the phone close to her ear. She could tell something was wrong. He never calls her mom.

Mitsuki: Katsuki, what is it baby?

Katsuki: Someone... 

He almost couldn't get the words out

Katsuki: Someone I love is dying, and I think it's my fault...

Katsuki's voice cracks at the end of his statement and he covers his mouth with his hand.

Mitsuki: Please elaborate...

Katsuki: Deku... Izuku has the Hanahaki disease because of me...

It was quiet on both ends. Katsuki's face streaming with hot upsetting, angry tears. He was mad at himself and sad that this is happening to the one and only Izuku Midoriya. Deku.

Mitsuki: Tell him you love him back, honey... Tell him before it's too late.

There was silence but the line was still on.

Mitsuki: Sent me which hospital, I will be there, but hurry up and go tell him. 

Phone Call End

     With that Katsuki ended the phone call and sent his mother his location. "Katsuki Bakugo?" Someone says. Katsuki turns his head to see a tall lady with brown hair in a bun her hair covered with a hair net. "Follow me, please." She says and he does.

     They stop at a room and Katsuki rushes inside and looks at Izuku. Izuku reaches out his hand and Katsuki walks over taking it sitting on the hospital bed a bit. Izuku takes off his oxygen mask. "Kacchan I-" Izuku was cut off with a kiss. He closes his eyes falling deep into the kiss. The kiss was soft... Warm... And welcoming. It was once again as if timed stopped. It was only them, enjoying a kiss that could have lasted forever. Izuku widens his eyes and they pull away from one other. Izuku's eyes start to water as silent small tears went down his cheek. Katsuki was worried until Izuku said...

"The pain is gone... I can breathe..."

     Katsuki's eyes widen and he smiles closing his eyes as tears freely fall from his eyes onto the hospital bed. Izuku takes his hand and wipes Katsuki's tears away. "I love you..." Katsuki says and Izuku stops everything. He sits up leaning in and Kissing Katsuki passionately.

     "I love you too, Kacchan..."

It was about an hour after the kiss and Izuku was laying in the hospital with wires attached. The doctors wanted to make sure everything was okay, and make sure there wasn't any remaining damage in his lungs. "Where is my baby?!" Inko yells and Izuku and Katsuki both look up. She runs over and hugs the both of them. After the heartwarming moment she was talking to the doctor and All Might showed up seconds later having a sigh of relief. 

     "Midoriya shounen! I'm so glad that you're okay..." All Might says walking up to him and the two embrace. All Might was already crying soft tears. He truly cared for the boy as if he was his own son. Mitsuki and Masaru arrive at this time and Katsuki was greeted with a bear hug from both parents. Inko and Mitsuki talk sharing tears and All Might was chatting with Aizawa on the phone about Izuku's condition.

     "I am so sorry..." Izuku averted his gaze from All Might and looked at Katsuki. He really looked at him. Taking in every little detail. 

     "You don't need to-" he was cut off.

     "Yes. Yes I do. I fucked up. I am an ass and I put you through hell your whole life. I put you through hell just an hour ago..." Izuku listens carefully knowing better than to intervene. "All my life, I couldn't wrap my head around you. Why where you so persistent? I later learned that loving someone can be dangerous so I resorted to not loving anyone at all. I pushed people away, especially the one I cared about the most..." Izuku's eyes widen. Katsuki looks at him and takes Izuku's scared hand. "Izuku, I apologize for every shitty thing I have ever done to you up until this point. I don't deserve your love..." Katsuki says looking to the side in shame of himself. Izuku takes his other hand and forces Katsuki to look at him.

     "Katsuki..." Katsuki's eyes widen and he looks at Izuku in shock. "I love you. You do deserve my love, ya' know why?" Katsuki shakes his head and Izuku pushes him slightly. "Because I said so." Izuku smirks and Katsuki smiles and the two laugh slightly. Their laughs were completely different but putting them together seemed to sound like a melody to everyone's ears.

     "Who'd you learn that badassery from?" Katsuki says raising an eyebrow.

     "I learned it from the only person who can play with my heart strings and make me love them without even trying..." Izuku says. Everyone in the room was watching them. Inko was recording and Mitsuki was ready to take pictures. The two leaned in and Kissed once again and heart the tell tale snap of a picture. 

"OLD HAG!!" Katsuki yells and Izuku giggles. Katsuki smiles and everyone awed them. Katsuki tries to stop smiling but it didn't work. He couldn't stop. "I love you, Izuku..."

     "I love you too, Katsuki..."