Throughout Neito’s time as a third year at UA and the years after that, where he built himself up as an underground hero to rely on, and an excellent duo with Shinsou Hitoshi, his relationship with Mina’s friends had improved a lot.

 

He was still the closest with Kaminari, but he got along fairly well with Jirou too pretty early on. They could fall into scathing banter and still get along, her speech able to get just as barbed as his. They could also sit in silence in each other’s company for hours, just reading or doing homework or listening to music. Kirishima was Mina’s best friend, so he saw him a lot at the home on the weekends. The redhead was ‘teeth buddies’ with Noi, who absolutely adored him. Sero had joined Rin in making sure he ate proper food, but he would also join in on his and Jirou’s banter, though he had a lower tolerance than she did for his nonsense. He was the most level headed in Mina’s friend group and had no problem calling him out on his bullshit.

 

Then there was Bakugo. After the sort of pact they made when Mina told him they lived together, their relationship had improved, though there were some bumps in the road. The biggest one was when Neito called Bakugo out on his habit of calling everyone extras, even his friends. They’d had a proper fight about it, but resulted in the explosive blond doing it a little bit less often. Another was about Neito’s manic behaviour where Neito ended up being forced to open up to Bakugo emotionally, telling him about some of his mental health issues. It had ended with him in tears, and Bakugo for once not being terrible about it, mostly sitting there in awkward silence and an arm around his shoulder in an uncomfortable attempt at comfort. Neito had finally agreed to go to therapy after that, to Mina’s and Kendou’s relief. After both those instances, their begrudging acceptance of having each other in their lives because of Mina had turned into a tentative friendship that both of them fumbled with once in a while, but came to care for.

 

He never would have expected to become proper friends with Bakugo, but four years into being a pro hero, he could honestly admit to others that that’s what they were.

 

They were watching Jirou perform with her rock band on stage when Neito realised that maybe, just maybe, he felt something more than friendship for the other man. You couldn’t deny that Bakugo was a highly attractive man, but for a while now it’d become more than a factual statement. He didn’t just find him attractive, he was downright attracted to the man.

 

There was something so good about the way his grin looked; not the one he wore in public while doing hero work, but when he was truly enjoying himself. The light in his eyes when he smiled when they were alone together. It made his heart beat faster and his face flush. By the pink on Bakugo’s face and the cheeky smile that made his eyes crinkle in that way he enjoyed, Bakugo was well aware of his attraction.

 

️

Their dance around each other culminated at a party for pro heroes. Or, more accurately, at the afterparty at a heroes only bar. Eraserhead, Present Mic and their old friend Oboro who had been through hell and back to get his mind back as Kurogiri were the only ones sober, but Oboro, who had gotten a job bartending at said bar, was on duty, so that was no wonder. Present Mic though, who had battled alcoholism, was drinking juice together with his husband, conversing lovingly with their returned friend. Oboro had only been back for a year and a half, when Eri managed to use her quirk to turn his time back. For half a year both the voice hero and 1A’s former homeroom teacher had taken as much time off work as they could to help him integrate with society again.

 

The afterparty was loud, people dancing, drinking and talking, and after dancing with both Mina, Kendou, Tetsu and Kaminari he was cooling down in a quieter corner, sipping his drink through a straw. Dancing with Mina was a whole experience to keep up with, as she taught you as many moves as she could while doing it, and now he was wiped out.

 

Bakugo slid into the seat next to him, thigh pressed against thigh. It made his already warm face grow even hotter, and he almost choked on the drink. Clearing his throat, he looked over at his friend, who casually slung his arm across the backrest behind his shoulders, fingers brushing against his shoulder.

 

“Not gonna dance anymore?” Bakugo’s gaze flicked over to where Mina and Reiko were dancing together, forehead against forehead. They’d been dating for a year now, and Mina had confided in both of them that she might want to marry the ghost girl.

 

“It’s a slow dance, not exactly my style.” Aka, Bakugo was single and didn’t feel like inviting anyone up for everyone to see. “Speaking of dance…” Bakugo leaned in closer, whispering in his ear, “wanna do some other type of dancing, just the two of us?”

 

Neito stared into his eyes, the heat on his face growing unbearable. For a few seconds he was stunned into silence, before he slowly nodded.

 

They slipped out of the bar without anyone noticing.

 

️

Neito had hoped that sleeping with Bakugo would get his attraction to the other man out of his system. But no, it didn’t work. They went back to being friends after, yet again back to how they’d been before. Their banter was still aggressive, but took a slightly more flirtatious turn after they shared a bed, the only sign that something had happened.

 

Mina and Reiko got married, even adopted a baby, and time just went on with no mercy.

 

Then, Bakugo went away to take part in busting a crime syndicate in France, which would take a few months at least. Then, maybe they’d continue their song and dance, or maybe Neito would get the guts to ask him out.

 

Maybe.

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