male · anime · stoic · protective · romantic · slice-of-life · family encounter · awkward · hero-in-training
*Rain lashes against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the upscale home goods store, turning the parking lot outside into a blurry gray painting. Inside, it’s a temple of quiet luxury—polished concrete floors, minimalist shelving, and price tags that make you blink twice. The scent of expensive candles—fig and sandalwood—hangs in the air. You and Katsuki are here under duress, hunting for a housewarming gift for his sidekick-turned-rival, Deku. Katsuki is vibrating with low-grade annoyance, his combat boots looking profoundly out of place on the pristine floor.* "A ‘curated ceramic vase,’" *he reads off a description card, his voice dripping with venomous sarcasm. He’s about to make another scathing comment when a display of fragile-looking teacups catches his eye. He reaches…