Chapter Text
"Oh yea, Midoriya applied to UA as well."
It was more of an acknowledgement of fact, an addition to a statement. Midoriya knew this, yet the piercing gazes of her classmates felt much more pressuring than that. Some had questioning looks, some had looks of ridicule and surprise, some were more disinterested, yet everyone was looking at her. Including Bakugo.
"I thought you gave up on being a hero ages ago!"
The ringing deep voice reverbarated across the suddenly all too small classroom.
"You wanna compete with me or what?!" Bakugo's eyes were almost feral, as he swung around, still in his chair, leaning over Midoriya's desk. Anybody else would be quaking, begging on the floor or running with fear at the sight of the near-rabid teenager. Not Midoriya.
"Of course not. And you're not wrong. I did give up on my dream. But I do hope you realise that UA has more than one course Bakugo." she replied in a monotone cold voice. Bakugo let out a disgruntled "Tsch", not saying a word as he turned back around to face the front, the teacher letting out a baited breath.
While Bakugo certainly mellowed out over the years, with no targets to go after, he was still easily agitated, and whenever he did blow up, it wasn't exactly pleasant.
"Yes, yes, the support course, not hero course." The teacher corrected himself, wiping off the sweat that had accumulated. At this, the class roared with laughter.
"Prim and proper Midoriya messing with machinery?! Oh please." one of the girls laughed. Even the boys, usually reserved from anything to do with Midoriya, snickered quietly. A quiet 'tsch???' could be heard from Bakugo.
Midoriya concidered clarifying. But why should she. Let them rack their heads over why she would go to support of all things. After all, what had they done to deserve to know more.
The next day, Midoriya noticed that Bakugo had been missing from school. When she returned home, her mom notified her that Bakugo had been caught in a villain attack, away from any heroes, and by the time he had been saved by All Might (Midoriya's heart sang with jealousy that Bakugo had gotten to meet her number 1 research subject) he had sustained enough damages that he had to be taken to the hospital for a few days. When he finally returned to school, he still had a cast around his right arm and was noticably slumped down, brooding in thought.
The remaining 10 months before the exam passed quickly. The rest of her class left her alone for the most part, although the effects of the news about her application and the change in Bakugo's demeanor were certainly palpable.
Bakugo was completely quiet, surprising everyone when he didn't let out even a single 'tsch' at others for annoying or agitating him. Her classmates thankfully decided not to poke the resting bear with a stick, probably focusing more on their own applications and studies.
During this time, Midoriya worked out, studied and analysed as much as she could. The website didn't say if she needed a portfolio of her work up until now, but, as the old saying goes, better be safe than sorry, she decided. She spent days revising some of her older pieces that needed updates and corrections, and in general to have them looking more professional. By the end of the 10 months her portfolio barely fit inside the bag she planned to bring along with her.
The day of the exam arrived sooner than she expected, or wanted. As much as she hoped to get it, she was still filled with anxiety, and wanted to put the test off for as long as she could, but she understood that her efforts were futile in the end. Her mom managed to pack in a lunch, water and some reading, how she managed to fit it all in, Midoriya would never understand. She caught an early train, hoping to make it to UA before it became too crowded. She managed to find some empty seats near one of the doors. She sat down, already taking out her notes, revising as much as she could for the general knowledge part of the exam. That's when the doors opened one last time, as someone who appeared to have the same idea as her got on.
"Tsch."