The Reds and the Greens

Izuku knew he cannot compete.
He wasn't anyone special.
He wasn't anyone who could catch someone's attention.
He wasn't strong enough to fight for someone.

How could he compete?
He wasn't born in the riches like the other.
He wasn't born beautiful like the other.
He wasn't born into royalty like the other.

He was a maid's son and the other was a prince.
How could he compete?

He knew he can never fill the gap. How can he? It was too big of a void to fill. He knew they'll never be what he wanted. He knew he will see him one day with someone else by his side and if he was lucky, he will find someone too or end up working his entire life for the one he desired for a wish to be able to see him forever.

He knew he will see him holding hands with someone else, loving someone else, having a life with someone else.

He knew it will happen one day, he wasn't stupid to think they will remain how they are..how they were.

He knew they will not always be the 4-year-olds who used to play together, share toys with each other, only with each other.

"Ish..ishku..this..eat this.. mommy said shtrabelies are shwet and you lyke shweet.."

He knew they will not always be the 7-year-olds, fighting over an All Might toy that Izuku could not afford and his prince, his Kacchan forcing him to take his.

"Deku, are you looking down on me? I WILL share my All Might with you, you can't stop me"

He knew they will not always be the 11-year-old who would sneak out into the garden. Who would spend the entire time laying among the flowers, making up scenarios of how they will defeat the villains, who would spend time talking about everything and everyone.

He knew they will not always be the 12-year-olds where Katsuki would play with his green curly hair in the same garden, pin a little daisy in his hair because Kacchan thought Deku looked cute like that.

He knew they will not always be the 13-year-olds where they would explore the world around the palace, hand in hand with Kacchan's promise to save him from any danger.

He knew they will not always be the 14-year-olds where the other would steal a bucket full of strawberries for Izuku from the Royal Kitchen.

"Uh Kacchan, that's too much! I can't possibly have all of it"

"I'm not asking you to eat all of it today dummy. Eat half today and leave the rest for tomorrow. I will get you more later" he chuckled

He knew they will not always be the 15-year-olds where the other would kidnap Izuku out of his maid quarters at midnight and take him to the garden where he had a little celebration planned, just among two of them.

"Happy Birthday..Izuku"

"Th..thank you, Ka..Kacchan" on the brink of tears.

"Oh come on, why are you crying? We do this every year!" he smiles lightly and pulls Izuku in a hug.

But it was different this time, isn't it?

The hug felt a little too nice. The embrace felt a little too intimate. The warmth felt like the warmth that fills the chest on a Christmas morning knowing you are surrounded by your loved ones. The warmth that fills the chest on a summer evening under a drizzle that spreads the homely feeling, the scent of petrichor. The warmth that fills the chest knowing you are loved by the one you love.

It was different.

He knew they will not always be the 15-year-olds who had their first kiss that night. Who had their hearts ignite a fire that night.