Leave Your Mark | Various!BNHA x Reader

54: Love Rivals

This is awkward.

Such is the thought that rings out through Katsuki's and Shouto's minds alike, as they both lie on the ground, burying their faces in humiliation. One of these pitiful fools decided to kiss you, publicly, without stopping to think it through. Meanwhile, the other pitiful fool just inadvertently blurted that he wishes he was the one who'd kissed you instead.

It doesn't really matter what kind of excuses either of them tries to make. What's done is done. From this moment onward, they are both viscerally aware of not only their own feelings, but how others feel about you, too.

Well, as the saying goes: love is war.

"You can't like [Name]," Shouto suddenly blurts again, finally raising his head from the dirt.

Katsuki's head shoots up from the dirt a split second later, cheeks exploding into a dark shade of crimson. "What the hell did you just say to me?! As if I like that stupid marshmallow-obsessed freak!"

"But you kissed her. And she's not stupid. Everyone knows [Name] is a genius. You're just embarrassing yourself at this point."

"I only kissed her because she kept begging me to! I wanted to wipe that stupid smirk off her face, that's all! You dumb, or what??"

"[Name] begged you to kiss her?" Shouto gasps, and it's a good thing he's still sitting on the ground, because he would've collapsed all over again had he been standing upright.

"No shit," Katsuki snaps, and he can't help but puff his chest out, visibly prideful. The truth is that there was absolutely no begging involved. You were literally just teasing him. Nothing more, nothing less.

But as far as Katsuki's concerned, Shouto doesn't need to know that.

"Are you trying to say that... she wanted to be kissed by you?" Shouto mumbles in disbelief.

"Isn't it obvious?" Katsuki waves off. "She's been obsessed with me from day one. She used to stalk me when we were kids. She kept following me around to parks, my middle school, my neighborhood... you name it. I bet she even applied to U.A because of me. So, I decided to humor her this time. She probably didn't think I'd actually go through with it. I sure proved that idiot wrong."

Katsuki lets out a few sharp, overly-arrogant laughs, but it's mostly in an attempt to convince himself, to be honest. He's desperately trying to believe his own ridiculous words. It's less embarrassing if he acts like he kissed you because he wanted to win against you somehow. Which, technically speaking... he kind of did win. He got to kiss you. Right on the lips.

This is one of the best victories he's ever had-by far.

"You're lying," Shouto scowls. Now that he's gotten over his initial bewilderment, his brows are furrowed, and he feels even more irritated than he thought he would. "[Name] isn't the type to go around begging someone to kiss her. She wouldn't have to beg, because everyone already likes her. So, you must be lying about how she begged you to kiss her, and you're lying about not liking her, too."

"I already said I don't like her!" Katsuki cries out.

"See? You're lying again. But I guess it doesn't really matter, because as I said, you can't like [Name]."

"I can't?"

"No. You're not allowed to." Shouto's cheeks puff out in childish protest, and he finally manages to stand up again, crossing his arms defiantly.

He's clearly trying to be intimidating right now, but unfortunately for him, he's too cute to pull it off.

"What the fuck do you mean I'm not allowed to?" Katsuki snaps. His blush deepens as he hurries to add, "Even though I don't! I don't like her, so this obviously doesn't apply to me, but who are you to tell me what I'm allowed to do, huh?"