Curate, connect, and discover
My favorite KiriDeku headcanon will forever be that Izuku loves the normalcy that comes with being with Kirishima. So many of his closest relationships are built off of anintense emotional connection: his past with Katsuki, his shared grief with Uraraka, his understanding of Shoto's past, and those relationships are GOOD, but they weigh on Izuku's heart in a way he could never explain.
In second year though, his connection with Kirishima makes him feel...normal again, like he's a highschooler, a teenager falling in love. Kirishima takes him to arcades, and comic book stores, and cafes. They both blush and stutter the first time they cuddle on the common room couch together. They walk each other to class. Inko gushes over how handsome Kiri is. It's normal, it's safe, it's comfortable, it's a real, human connection that doesn't sit on the shaky foundation of trauma Izuku knows he'll need years to process.
And sure, there's bad days, nights Izuku sneaks beneath the covers of Kirishima's bed to cry in the other boy's arms, or days Izuku notices the way Kirishima seems quieter than usual, as if embarrassed to simply take up space in a room. But Izuku never leaves those moments with his chest hurting or the ever-growing worry he wasn't prepared to process or deal with those feelings. No, those moments of comfort are so much more soft kisses on scars and movies played to distract from bad thoughts then tear-filled shouting matches or awkward stunned silences.
Falling in love with Kirishima is what breaths humanity back into Izuku in their second year, and fuck that's beautiful.