The Illusion

A/N I swear it's not TodoDeku it is still DekuBaku! Just read and find out for yourself. 🙏

"Todoroki, are you sure this will work?" I asked my friend who looked just as clueless as I felt.

"I don't know but I overheard Ashido saying that it worked for her to get Sero to confess so it's worth a try. Right?" He flopped back on his bed, we were in his room and at this point I think we are desperate. "Who am I kidding? Kirishima would never fall for it, he would just tell us we are so manly and pat us on the back while I want to disappear into the void of time and space."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, you have a way better chance of it working on Kirishima than I do Kacchan. Let's just do it, worst case everyone thinks we are dating and we'll just pretend to break up." I try to distract him from wallowing. Turns out he is extremely sensitive and I don't have a way to defend myself against those eyes. I now understand why Kacchan calls them puppy killers. They are deadly to my will power.

"Are you sure? We will have to get pretty close for us to have a chance of it working," he reminds me and we both look at the romance mangas on his bed and we both groan. We are doomed.

"It's better than what we have been doing, just some ground rules first." I sit next to him on his bed and he sits up nodding waiting for me to continue. "First no kissing on the lips! I want my first kiss to be with Kacchan."

"Agreed, but I guess the hand or cheek or something would be okay?" He seemed to think about it for a minute before nodding and looking at me and I agreed as well.

"Second, no matter what we can't say, I love you. Same reason as before," I am standing my ground on this one.

"We'll have to pick a different phrase then, you know our classmates are not going to let that go. Maybe; I adore you?" He suggested and I nodded, happy with how this is going so far.

"I can handle that and you are my best friend so it would be true at least." I kept nodding, happy that we were working out the kinks of this entire plan before we set it into motion. The thought of making it up on the go somehow kills me.

"I have a rule as well, no matter what happens when we break up, not in front of everyone unless both Kirishima and Bakugo put us on the spot at the same time. We can't leave each other friendless," he actually narrowed his eyes like this was a big no for him.

I smiled though, this means that when everything is said and done, I don't have to worry about losing my friend.

"Hugs are okay though right? And cuddles? But if we start dating our crushes we have to stop. I don't want Kirishima to get the wrong idea," Todoroki rubbed his chin while talking.

"Agreed, so..." I looked around to see it should be almost dinner time now. "Are we ready for this?"

"No, but we will do it anyway." Can't say he is wrong but first.

"We should practice first. A hug, like lovers do, and cuddling." I could feel my face flushing at my own words. I can't believe that we are actually going to fake dating to maybe get their attention. This is insane.

"Judging from your reaction from just saying that I would have to agree," he nodded and for the next forty-five minutes we hugged and cuddled trying to make it seem natural. We also came up with our story and how we started dating and what not.

Please if there's a god, don't let Kacchan kill me for this!

***

"Hey guys!" I smiled happily as Todoroki and I walked into the kitchen holding hands, a small blush still on our faces from our "training". More like personal hell. If this doesn't work I am never trying it again. Not ever! I would rather stay single forever.

"What's for dinner tonight? It smells good," Todoroki asked, trying my suggestion about talking more to try and get Kirishima's attention easier.

"Bro!" Kirishima smiled back at us from the counter. "Bakubro is making some kind of vegetarian curry! He says that it is better for us than eating meat so much of the time!" If Kirishima noticed our interlocked fingers he didn't show it. Instead he just gushed about Kacchan's cooking.

I'm pretty sure that he is crushing hard on Kacchan but I'm not ready to give up yet. This will be my last attempt, unless it turns out that Kacchan is already dating someone else then, I can't do anything else but walk away, respecting his feelings. No matter how much it hurts.

Kirishima and I are talking pretty easily and I even managed to get Todoroki involved in the conversation. He was practically glowing when Kirishima turned his bright smile on him.

"Made! Shitty Hair I MADE vegetarian curry, now grab a fucking plate and shut the fuck up already!" Kacchan yelled at us all and somehow Kaminari and Shinso managed to get a plate first even though neither of them were even in the room more than five seconds ago.

Soon enough we were all eating at the table and chatting happily, Todoroki sitting next to me while Kacchan and Kirishima were across from us. Kacchan looked more upset than usual which only made me more worried but Todoroki just held my hand and we ate with our other hands. If nothing else this is kind of nice.

Soon everyone was done eating and we quickly cleaned up after ourselves before going into the common area. Today is Friday and so it was our mandatory bonding activity night. Tonight we are watching movies so at least we didn't have to try and pretend to be happy with the lights off.

Kacchan and Todoroki were already sitting on the couch and Kirishima practically dove between them, almost sitting on Kacchan's lap. Maybe I'm already too late? Maybe Kacchan is happy with Kiri and I should just back off?

Todoroki must have seen where my thoughts were going and he scooted closer to Kiri before patting next to him and I curled up against him. He wrapped an arm around me in the already dark room while I just tried not to cry. At least tonight's movie is a heartbreaker, so when I start crying no one will get too worried...

***

The movie wasn't a heartbreaker, it was a reality shattering masterpiece that tore out my very soul while I was already crying. Just why? Why tonight of all nights?

Todoroki was sweet and he held me close as I cried my heart out, one hand rubbing soothing circles on my back as he did.

Iida turned the lights on and practically everyone was crying except for Kacchan and a few others that left in the middle of the movie. 

"Deku? Are you okay?" Uraraka asked, wiping away her own tears while she cuddled into her girlfriend Tsu.

"I-I-I'll b-be fine!" I tried rubbing the tears away but it really wasn't helping and Todoroki just grabbed the tissues from the table that I didn't see earlier before handing me the box. I ended up burying my face into his chest, the embarrassment finally getting to me from everyone's scorching eyes.

"Maybe we should end the movie night here? I know we usually do three movies but-" Todoroki was saying but I shook my head no stopping him.

"I-I'm fine! Really, the next one is supposed to be an All Might movie," I begged and he smiled down at me before nodding.

"Damn get a room, you two," Kaminari laughed, hugging his own boyfriend Shinso. Almost all of our class was dating someone and happy versus the four of us on the couch? Yeah, single.

"Shut it, Dunce Face, everyone knows what a cry baby Deku is. Stop trying to hook us all up." Kacchan groaned and I couldn't help wondering what he meant by that?

"Dude! Look at you guys, Kiri is literally in your lap and Midoriya is almost in Todoroki's! I don't think anyone needs to try and hook you up, you are just hiding your relationships from us. Very badly at that," Kaminari huffed and I felt Todoroki flinch a little before we both turned to see that, yes, Kiri was actually curled up in Kacchan's lap.

"Bro! It was a sad movie and as best bros he is required to let me cry on him!" Kiri defended large tears still flowing from his eyes. He looked almost as bad as I felt. Almost.

"Sure dude, whatever you say." Kami sighed before Iida turned out the light again and hit play for the next movie before sitting next to Mei. But unlike the first movie I couldn't focus at all. Kiri didn't bother to move out of Kacchan's lap until around halfway through the movie and then I could see him slowly making his way closer to Todoroki. Maybe all hope isn't lost?

I couldn't shake the thought from my head and decided that I really needed something to drink. I quietly got up making sure not to disturb anyone. Todoroki gently squeezed my hand before letting me go.

Once I was in the kitchen I downed a large glass of water before letting out a sigh. Maybe all that crying was just too much for me? I grabbed a couple paper towels and washed off my face the best I could there in the kitchen.

Round two here I come!

***

It's been a month, and Todoroki and I are dragging at this point. Not to mention word has gotten out somehow so now the whole school thinks we are dating, which WOULD have been fine except for one tiny detail.

Todoroki's fans. I didn't even know that he had fans at school! Hell I didn't know I had fans! But as it turns out… We do and they are not giving up.

"I saw Deku running this way!" I heard a girl yell and suddenly a group of a couple dozen girls went running by the classroom that I just ducked into. They didn't stop and I let out a deep sigh. Finally, a break. They have chased me all through lunch and I am starving. Not that I will be allowed to eat like this, I don't even know where I can get some food at the moment. But right now? I just really want to sit down.

I slid down the door frame, trying to relax only to hear movement in the room I snuck into. I looked up to see Kacchan and Kirishima were frozen looking at me. They looked like they had been in an argument but then I remembered Todoroki!

I stood up real quick and cracked the door open and I could hear the girls squealing getting closer. I counted down and reached out and grabbed my friend by the collar and yanked him into the room before any of the other students could see where he went.

"Thank you so much. What part of NO don't any of them understand? I'm gay for crying out loud!" He panted a little before wrapping his arms around my shoulders making me flinch. "Just a minute please, I just can't." I could feel his body trembling as he held me and I forced myself to relax.

"It's okay Todoroki, it looks like we are pretty safe here. Kacchan and Kirishima are here but no one else is." I tried to tell him so that he would know without freaking out but honestly I don't think he noticed. He was still trembling, it's hard. As heroes in training we can't just lash out like we want. We have to be nice but when they get touchy or grabby we can't really do anything at all but run. So we have gotten very good at running.

I tried to turn but his grip just tightened. "It's okay Todoroki, I'm just turning around," I tell him softly. He stiffened but I could tell he had to force himself to unlatch enough for me to turn. So here we are standing in the middle of a classroom with our actual crushes in it, hugging each other.

"It's okay now. We escaped, take deep breaths, you have this," I whispered, patting him on the back. He wasn't crying or anything but he was still trembling and I don't think it's from fear. I think it's rage and he is fighting himself tooth and nail to stay in control.

He let me go but he never looked behind me while he started fuming and creating steam. His ice side was frosting over while his fireside was flashing out flames while he tried to control himself.

"What's so wrong about being gay? Huh? Why do they all have to try and 'fix' me? There isn't anything to fix!" Todoroki was breaking and I could see he was falling apart.

"Sho, look at me, focus." I grabbed him by his shoulders ignoring both the frostbite and the burns for the moment. He looked up with his eyes big and teary and again I'm reminded that I have zero defence to the puppy killers.

"There is nothing wrong with you. Take a deep breath, you've been holding it for too long." I reminded him. The fact that he choked just breathing in, is sad. He started visibly shaking but this is better than before. Now it's not like his body is going to just give out if pushed by a butterfly.It does look way more scary but I have gotten far too used to his meltdowns over the last couple years as his friend.

I waited until he was breathing normally again before removing my hands to find the kind of damage I had waiting for me.

"Looks like I'll have to go see Recovery Girl again. She is starting to think you are hurting me on purpose. Last time she said she would tell All Might on us." I groaned and we both slid down the door, holding it shut tight before just sitting on the floor.

"I'm hungry," I stated and Todoroki started laughing and after just a minute I joined him. Maybe this isn't so bad.

"What the hell?" I looked up to see Kacchan and Kirishima still frozen just staring at us. I looked at my hands again and bit my cheek, I really need to see Recovery Girl soon.

"Don't worry about it, Bakugo. This happens all the time." Todoroki stated, waving his hand before pulling out the creams for my hands. Yeah, all the time.

"Hey, do you think they went into a classroom?" We heard a girl shout from right outside the door and we both froze. Why can't classroom doors have locks on them?

"Well this one just has Bakugo and Kirishima in it. They are cute together but it's not the same as Midoriya and Todoroki. Let's try another room!" Another girl yelled much closer than the first. She must have been right on the other side of the door looking through the window about our heads. Thank All Might she didn't look down!

When the running out in the hallway finally faded Todoroki and I let out a sigh of relief.

"So half of them think we are cute together and the other half think they can fix us? Just great!" I groaned covering my face, but it didn't help and my hands still hurt. "Ouch!" I hissed only for Todoroki to look at my hands sadly.

"I'm sorry Midoriya, it's all my fault. I should be able to control my anger better than this," he used his ice side to try and cool the angry red of the burn from his fireside but there wasn't too much he could do for my other hand. "We'll have to make a run for Recovery Girl's office again. I can text her ahead of time if you want? We both know All Might is going to be angry that I hurt you again."

I shook my head no, "It's not your fault. I knew what putting my hands on you meant. It's not like you didn't pull away before you started losing it. It is my fault." I take a deep breath before cautiously looking over our heads to see the hallway empty.

"Go ahead and use my phone and text All Might for me. Tell him what happened and he'll meet us at Recovery Girl's office. Then we'll make a run for it. Maybe we should bring our lunches and just skip the cafeteria tomorrow?"

"We probably should have started doing that weeks ago."

"Oi! What the hell was that just now?" Kacchan snapped and Todoroki and I jumped, we had completely forgotten they were in the room with us.

I sighed before answering, "Our 'fans' really like us."

"Bro, do they chase you guys everyday?" Kirishima asked in shock.

"Pretty much, I can't remember the last time we were actually able to eat our lunch at school and I'm starving." Todoroki answered and to be fair I think right now we are both too hungry to care too much about our crushes talking to us.

All in all we are miserable.

I saw Kirishima and Kacchan look at each other and I really don't know how to judge the faces they were making. Are they worried? Angry? Is it a kind of mix of the two?

"Hey I have plenty of food if you don't mind sharing?" Kirishima offered and I could already feel Todoroki start to get up to join him before he realized that there is no way that Kiri brought enough for three people.

"Get your ass over here Nerd and eat something!" We both froze for a second before we got up and went over to them, they both had plenty for a second person and Kacchan actually forced me to sit down and started feeding me when he saw my hands.

"Damn Nerd always hurting yourself for no damn reason," I heard him grumbling but even so he used the chopsticks and fed me from his bento while Kirishima just put his bento in front of Todoroki.

I was not expecting any of this but it was nice, Kacchan was even being gentle making sure to blow on the still hot food before giving it to me. I think I just fell even harder for him. What am I actually supposed to do now? The day after Todoroki and I were "found out" to be dating, so did Kacchan and Kirishima. But here they are being so nice and gentle to us and I don't know if my heart can actually take too much more of it.

"Tomorrow meet us here, we'll bring lunch for all of us, that way you can relax a little," Kirishima offered with a hopeful smile. "I mean if you want?"

Is he okay with us joining them for lunch everyday?

"Are you sure? We wouldn't want to crash your date," Todoroki stated before I could accept. Right, they are dating.

"We aren't actually dating dumbasses! We were just tired of the dumbass extras in our class pushing us," Kacchan fumed, the last bite of his lunch already in my mouth, so I couldn't say anything even in my shock.

"Really? Well us too, kind of," Todoroki shrugged looking away. Yeah that's a lie, we actually planned this but I'm not going to call him out on the lie. Our "relationship" was never real anyway.

"Bro! I thought you two were really dating! It looked so real, the way you are always holding hands and cuddled up on the couch together? How are you able to do that without things getting weird?" Kirishima asked, getting a lot closer to Todoroki while Kacchan eyed me.

"Easy we know who the other person actually likes, so there are no hurt feelings." Todoroki answered blinking, he seemed to just realize just how close he was sitting next to his crush and was starting to blush.

"Really who?" Kirishima asked, his eyes wide open while he kept getting closer to Todoroki. Am I blind or is Kiri practically begging right now?

"Pfft!" I couldn't help laughing and now all three of them are looking at me. "Sorry I just, dear All Might, how didn't I notice before?" I asked, still laughing.

"What is it, Midoriya?" Todoroki asked and I could see the puppy killers again.

"No! No more puppy killers! I can't take it anymore!" I whined looking away and Kacchan actually choked before laughing.

"So you finally understand? Took you long enough!" Kacchan kept laughing and before long we all were.

"Okay, but Todoroki don't be mad I'm about to make you very happy." I smiled at my friend who looked even more confused. "Kirishima has a crush on you," I smiled and in an instant Kiri was bright red and stuttering incoherently.

"Don't worry Kiri, Todoroki likes you too. I think you two are cute together," I smiled and now Todoroki was just as red as Kiri. "So you two can actually date, maybe we can tell everyone that we go on double dates? So don't worry about me, just you two be happy."

"Damn Nerd," Kacchan crossed his arms looking angrily at me. "That means you and I have to go out any time these two want to go on an actual date." It took me far too long to register what he just said and I could feel my face growing red. I saw Kiri whisper something in Todoroki's ear and he just nodded in answer.

"Midobro chill, Bakubro has a major crush on you too!" Kiri cheered and Kacchan who was taking a drink at the moment spit it out before he started setting off explosions in his hands stuttering, he was so angry he was stuttering.

"Guess that means we finally got their attention Midoriya. Does this mean we can stop fake dating now? I would really like to date Kirishima for real," Todoroki begged before turning to Kiri. "I mean if that's okay with you?" I then got to watch Kiri throw his arms around Todoroki. You know what? Screw it.

"Kacchan?" I asked, interrupting his cursing and explosions.

"What?" He demanded, still angry. He turned at the last second and I landed a small kiss on his lips.

"Want to go to the arcade after school? After I see Recovery Girl?" I asked giggling softly.

He blinked several times, his explosions stopping as he sat frozen for several moments before he whispered, "Yeah."

"Great, it's a date then. Let's change at the dorm first and we can meet in the common area?" I asked, still smiling like an idiot. If I'm going to do this I might as well go all in. He nodded and I leaned forward and pecked him on the cheek this time before standing up.

"Okay, time to out run the other students, I still need to go to the nurses office after all. I smiled at my friends and my boyfriend. I have a freaking boyfriend! A real one! Kacchan!

"Wait, I'll go with you. No one will bother you if I'm with you," Kacchan finally snapped out of it and I just grinned back at him. "Kiri?"

"I got ya bro. I'll clean up and we'll see you in class." Kiri answered after using his pinky to grab a hold of Todoroki and geeze how red he is, is just so cute. They make a cute couple.

"Bet we could make a cuter couple," Kacchan smirked before his hand rested on my lower back and rested on my hip.

"Maybe," I smiled and we walked out of the classroom and made our way to Recovery Girl's office.

I got a lecture from hell from not only Recovery Girl but also All Might who decided that enough was enough and that abuse is still abuse. I should end my relationship with Todoroki.

"Uh, actually…" I was rubbing at the back of my neck with my now healed hands while Kacchan was laughing so hard he was crying.

"You didn't even tell All Might? Oh my fucking God! I'm dying!" Kacchan started hitting the doorframe he was leaning against and I finally confessed about our fake relationship.

"You're telling me that you have been fake dating your friend for no other reason than to get your classmates to leave you alone?" All Might asked and Kacchan was still crying while Recovery Girl was nodding her head as if everything made perfect sense.

"I mean, more or less." I kind of shrugged, how am I supposed to tell him the actual truth with Kacchan standing right there?

"So how long are you two planning to pretend to be dating?" All Might asked, narrowing his eyes like he didn't believe a word of it.

"I mean we started talking about calling it off now but I'm not really sure if that's what we are going to do yet or not. Our friends are kind of intense," I could feel myself getting red.

"Right, but I think you two's fans are the bigger issue. Honestly, Icyhot lost control just because some girls said they could 'fix' him. Fucking dumbasses. Lucky I wasn't there, I would have killed them for that bullshit," Kacchan yawned from his place at the door not caring about the even more confused look All Might was giving us. I then had to explain how we had been spending our lunches literally running away from other students.

"I knew you were popular, but I hadn't guessed you were that popular." Recovery Girl eyed me and I felt very uncomfortable all of the sudden.

"Who am I kidding you're still better than Midnight. She actually goes out of her way to tell the girls from the other classes where we are just to laugh and say that we are only young once." I muttered and Kacchan was laughing again. Damn it I said that out loud!

"Young Bakugo, could you tell me why you're here now?" All Might turned to Kacchan but he looked so tired he really wasn't expecting Kacchan to say anything all that much more surprising than what I've already told him.

"Why wouldn't I be here? Damn Nerd is MY boyfriend," Kacchan shrugged like he didn't just drop an atomic bomb on not only All Might's head but Recovery Girl's head too.

"You're okay with people knowing?" I am already excited.

"Do I look like I give a rat's ass about what any extra thinks? You asked me out and I said yes. Everyone else can jump off a cliff," he smirked at me and I couldn't help giggling and soon enough he started chuckling too. The adults forgotten for the moment.

"Come on Deku, we need to get back to class before the caterpillar thinks I'm killing you again." He turned to leave and I jumped off the bed I was sitting on and ran over to join him only for him to put his hand back on my lower back and let it rest on my opposite hip again.

I think I can get used to this!