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[boombam]

Yeah.

[Katsuki picks up Deku to plop in his lap. Petting him gently as he complains.]

I told him that I've been feeling kind of... weird about Todoroki lately. And he went on that stupid Pride thing and interrogated Todoroki about his own feelings. Trying to get him to think he has a crush on me or somethin'.

[roundandaround]

Huh... I dunno, aren't asking about someone's feelings and trying to make them feel something different? Maybe he was trying to figure out if he did. It's still embarrassing, I guess.

[She tilts her head and keeps petting the bunnies.]

Maybe he thinks he's helping. Like there's someone I care about a lot here, who I know would be a lot happier if he found someone to love again. And since he's the kinda person who only wants to be with-with one other person, not like me, I was trying to find someone who's like all the things I know he likes.

[boombam]

It's embarrassing and it's meddling. I don't like it when people shove their nose where it doesn't belong.

[If there's a universe out there where he and Shoto could maybe express feelings for each other and maybe, perhaps, start dating... Katsuki wants it to be completely natural. Nothing weird or forced or other people trying to shove them together like dolls--]

I hope the guy you're trying to help ain't like me. Because even if it seems well intentioned, having someone trying to set me up with someone would piss me off too. It's better if it happens naturally.

[roundandaround]

He doesn't really get mad all that often. Except that one time where we ended up in the creepy sub-basement of the Underground Mall and these guys tried to attack us, but I think that was justified.

[Rinku scratches her head.]

How's it happen naturally, do you think?

[boombam]

[Katsuki nods in agreement about it being justified. Anyone would be mad if Rinku's safety was at jeopardy.]

Naturally like... I dunno. You meet someone at a bar and talk to 'em and find out they share the same interests as you. Or go to some event like a convention and find someone there.

[If Katsuki was back home, he'd imagine a scenario like the two above would've been how he found someone. Because at the time, not a single person in his life was attractive to him otherwise.]

Not everyone needs a wingman to try and get their buddy laid, you know?

[roundandaround]

Huh... But that's just how things start, and you guys already know each other, so you're probably on, like, step 2 or 27 or something.

[boombam]

Well-- yeah. Todoroki and I already knew each other before we got here. But we didn't really get along that well either. I only found out that his favourite colour is blue a couple of months ago.

[It's... it's been kind of slow because they're both awkward but it's fine!!]

But the bar and convention stuff was more about your friend and how he could go find someone with the same interests. Without needing you to scout for him.

[roundandaround]

Huh, I guess so. But I don't want my friend to be sad, either. And he's really been going through stuff since the blackout.

[boombam]

Has he expressed the fact that he wants to be in a relationship and that's what spurred this on?

Or are you assuming that, because you and your friends are happy in your relationships, that's what he needs to be happy too?

[roundandaround]

More like he told me he feels unlovable 'cause every time he tried to be in a relationship, something went wrong. And the one time it worked out, then they couldn't ever see each other again. It was a place like this, only except for having people working hard to let people stay if they want, once the world got saved, all the otherworlders had to go back to where they were from, no exceptions. Talk about unfair.

[boombam]

...yeah. That sounds pretty shitty.

[Katsuki thinks about Mike and how awful it'd be if he went back home...]

I still think you're meddling too much in this situation but.. have you tried asking if he wants help? It might be easier to find someone for him if he's on board.

[roundandaround]

I think he'd say he was fine even if he wasn't. And Neechan said if I told him that's what I was doing, he might think it's 'cause I don't want him around. I guess people who don't like themselves will think like that a lot. ...Or anyone who had people say they don't want them around before.

[After all, she's one of those now.]

[boombam]

[...yeah Katsuki can definitely relate.]

What's your plan if you find someone you think he'll like? Are you gonna introduce them to each other? 'Cuz if you did he might react the same way.

Thinking you're just trying to pair him off with someone to get him outta your hair.

[roundandaround]

......I kinda never thought that far. I just thought "hey, introduce them, go do fun things all together, help them get along and stuff."

[boombam]

Yeah, I kinda figured that was the case.

[It's a good think Katsuki is here to help rationalize this out with her before she wound up in an awkward situation--]

What kinda stuff does the guy like? If you wanna help without making him mad, it might be a good idea to set up some kind of event for him to meet likeminded people.

[roundandaround]

Hm... he likes music, the VR arcade, he said he wanted to go to the big fancy bathhouse in Dayrise once, he likes people who help him figure out stuff he doesn't know, "manly stuff" but I don't actually know what all that means... Oh, he liked it when I got him a coffee machine for Yuletide! And some of my DJ outfits, and this one time --

[Rinku stops, turns red, and screws her face up trying to think of anything else clean to say.]

Uh.. I know he doesn't like weird pizza or Twilight. Neechan told me not to try following him around to find out more stuff he wanted or liked, she says that's creepy.

[boombam]

...it's cause it is creepy, Senpai.

[Oh my god Rinku...]

He sounds like a nerd, though. So I think you should get all the nerds who like to play video games together for an arcade hangout. He'd probably be happy with a partner who'd play with him.

[roundandaround]

Eh? Is that a nerd thing? I thought it was an everyone thing. But an arcade party sounds like a ton of fun! Maybe I should do that for my birthday this year!

[boombam]

If you feel like it, sure.

[Katsuki's affectionately calling everyone nerds at least!!]

But don't do somethin' for your birthday if it's purely for someone else. I know you just wanna be a good friend but that's s'posed to be your day.

[roundandaround]

That's what people told me a couple years ago when I didn't have a party and just went to Usagi-chan's. But we have the same one, so I figured it was fine!

[rinku why]

[boombam]

...you realize that's kinda selfish of you, don't you? You basically forced her party to be a double birthday party by not having your own. I doubt your friends felt comfortable only wishing that Usagi chick a happy birthday knowing that it was yours, too.

[RINKU LOVE YOURSELF AND HAVE YOUR OWN PARTY???]

They probably wanted to celebrate you both separately and that's why they got on your case. 'Cuz you deserve a party, too.

[roundandaround]

Oh...

[Rinku looks at the ground. Her tail stops swishing, and one of the bunnies steps on it.]

I didn't know it was selfish. I thought it was the opposite of selfish 'cause it's letting her have the day.

[boombam]

[Katsuki lets out the biggest sigh at that, and he reaches out to gently pat her on the head. Feeling bad after seeing her tail sadly stop in place.]

I mean... the intention wasn't selfish. You wanted her to have the day because you like her, right? And seeing her happy makes you happy?

[roundandaround]

Uh-huh.

[Rinku looks up and sort of headboops into the patting.]

She always makes everyone else at work smile, so I didn't wanna be competition or anything. And yeah! It does! Seeing other people happy always makes me smile.

[boombam]

[pat pat]

Right. So what about your friends who are like you? Who wanna see you be happy because you always make people smile and all that junk?

[The reason Katsuki is trying so hard to teach Rinku to do stuff for herself is because she's... just so much like Izuku. This all sounds like stupid stuff he'd do for his own friends, and he knows that if someone in their friend group shared a birthday with Izuku (who everyone ADORES) they'd be super mad if he didn't have a party too.

Plus, he saw Izuku break himself down after so long of looking after everyone BUT himself. He's worried about Rinku...]

I mean, what if Usagi was waiting for you to have a party so she could bring you gifts and stuff? Or what if she wanted a joint party? 'Cuz some people think that stuff's fun for... whatever reason.