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Mina never claimed to be particularly bright, or talented. But she liked to think that she possessed a keen sense of people’s feelings.
Of course, it helped that none of her friends had any subtlety.
Seriously. None.
Before the end of their second year, the entirety of Class A was aware of two couples in their midst possessing ‘secret’ mutual crushes on each other.
In the one corner, there was the cute, squishy beans that were Midoriya and Ochako. Two innocent cinnamon rolls whose feelings for each other were as wholesome as puppies and white picket fences. Close companions and confidants that were always just one accidental touch away from turning into blushing, stammering wrecks.
It was just too friggin’ cute!
And in the other corner, with the smokin’-hot and ever mounting sexual tension, was Kirishima and Bakugo.
They were also cute. But mostly frustrating.
Because, in addition to very clearly possessing tender feelings for each other (something you would’ve thought Bakugo incapable of) there was also that underlying current of physical attraction that grew and grew, until you could hardly even be in the same room as them without needing a cold shower afterwards.
Unfortunately, Bakugo’s emotional constipation and Kirishima’s latent insecurities meant that neither party was going to be making a move anytime soon.
And yet there were plenty of moments when everyone thought something would finally give.
A stray, lingering glance. A fond tone of voice. A brief touch. A shared joke. An ambiguous sentence. Things that made everyone sit at the edge of their seats and wonder Is this finally it?
Alas, it never was.
Not even when Kirishima was hospitalized after the raid on the Eight Precepts, and Bakugo had an obvious Angst about it. Not even when they made up after that huge fight that left them spending a whole day avoiding each other and sulking.
No matter how many signs the universe hit them over the head with, their obliviousness continued to astound and amaze.
And honestly, it got really old really fast.
Their friends tried so very hard not to meddle, and just let them figure things out at their own pace. But surely there was no harm in bringing up the subjects of sex, romance, and relationships a little more often when they hung out with the couple in question. And if, say, Mina were to read some of the more… ahem… spicy articles of Cosmo aloud to Kiri just for shits and giggles, who was to say it wouldn’t start planting ideas in her head?
Unfortunately, all of these psychological tricks accomplished nothing but vague signs of discomfort from the target audience, and Bakugo either demanding a change in subject or declaring rather needlessly that romance was pointless (Seriously dude?).
When graduation finally rolled around, Uraraka and Midoriya finally proclaimed their pure, undying love for each other. And their friends speculated that, if nothing else, Bakugo’s unending rivalry with Midoriya meant this would be just the push the explosive hero needed to finally get his head out of his ass.
Nothing.
Zilch.
And now, two years after graduation, Mina was finally wondering if they should throw in the towel.
If only they weren’t so obviously, desperately in love!
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Then, out of the blue, something finally did give. All thanks to some magazine and a seriously skilled photographer.
Lately Kirishima had been acting… cagey, skittish, like someone with a guilty conscience. Especially, it seemed, around Bakugo.
Mina was sorely tempted to make a connection between that and the sexy photos published in the latest addition of My Suit. Who could blame the woman? If Mina hadn’t personally known Bakugo so well and/or that her best friend was in love with him, they might’ve gotten her a bit warm under the collar herself.
But, she didn’t have any actual, concrete proof. The only evidence was that the latter happened immediately after the former.
Besides, she figured that even if it was somehow true, it would end with everything back to the norm.
It was probably a good thing she didn’t gamble often.
One afternoon, Kirishima called her, sounding as if she had just finished crying her eyes out, and timidly asked Mina if she could come over.
It took less than a second to decide.
Three hours later, with her shift wrapped up, tissue boxes and wine bottle in tow, She arrived to see her best female friend looking like absolute hell.
Over their classes of Merlot, Eijiro finally admitted her feelings for Bakugo to another person, and then proceeded to unfold the events that had driven a wedge between them just hours ago, leading to her confessing to the man himself how attracted she was to him, then running out when shock left him stupefied.
So Mina had been right about the magazine. But she never thought it would create these problems, or this level of guilt in Kirishima.
She was starting to cry again by the end of the story, whimpering in a defeated tone, “I’ve fucked everything up.”
Mina’s heart bled. “Oh Honey, no. No you haven't. You’ve just experienced a setback is all.”
Kirishima gave a bitter laugh. “How is telling your best friend you want them just a setback?”
Obviously, the thought of those feelings being mutual never occurred to her. The poor kid.
“When that friend wants you back.”
Her reaction was another laugh that was more of a sob. “Please don’t…”
Mina winced inwardly. Didn’t she understand him better than anyone else? Just how much denial had she buried herself under to protect herself?
Well someone was going to set the record straight And until Bakugo finally decided to grow a pair, it might as well be her. “I’m dead serious! That boy’s got it bad for you, Ei! Everyone can see it! The way he looks at you, the way he treats you…”
But four years of denial wouldn’t go away that easily. “And how does he look at me?”
Mina wanted to scream How could you not see?
Instead, she tried to come up with a way to describe the look on Bakugo’s face, that said so many things at once, including and especially I love this woman.
“Like... you mean something to him. I know it can be hard to describe, but it’s there.”
Kirishima said nothing, gaze dropping to the tabletop, trying to absorb this input. Her own truths at war with those of an outside observer.
For one brief second, something akin to hope began to spark in her eyes. But was quickly gone.
“Even if you’re right… and that’s a big ‘if’... that doesn’t mean he’ll want to act on those feelings. I mean, you know how he is. It took him years to admit we were friends. How do I know something this big won’t scare him off?”
Mina hadn’t really given this possibility too much thought. Bakugo wasn’t as closed off to human relationships as he’d been in highschool. And the last thing he would want to do was hurt Kirishima because he lacked courage or know-how. Surely, if he loved her enough, and saw that she loved him back, that would give him strength he didn’t normally possess.
There was still a possibility she might be wrong. But better to know and have everything out in the open than live in doubt.
“I think you’re stuck on the worst case scenario. I mean, don’t get me wrong, you need to be prepared for it, but not to the point where you’re too scared to act.”
She was definitely starting to get through. “But what do I do?” Kirishima finally asked.
Mina thought it over. It seemed like the worst thing to do was make Bakugo feel cornered. As long as he didn’t, he could be surprisingly understanding.
“I don’t know him as well as you do, but maybe he needs a little space, a few hours to run it through his mind. Then, tonight, you start laying the groundwork by sending him a text apologizing for earlier and let him know how important his friendship is to you.”
The woman across the table gave an exhausted sigh, resting her chin on her hands. “Well, it’s certainly better than anything I can come up with.”
Mina tried to lift her spirits with a smile, patting her arm. As bleak as it might’ve seemed to Kirishima at the moment, there was no way a fight like this would be enough to completely ruin what they had between them.
“Don’t give up on him yet Kiri.”
“I’ll try.”
And she couldn’t resist the parting shot. “Thanks for the idea, by the way. I’m putting down one thousand yen on a boy, five years from now, about eight pounds.”
Kirishima’s face scrunched up. “You’re terrible!”
___________________________________________________________
The next day, who should call her but Exlodo-kills himself.
“Ashido, you gotta’ help me.”
“Whatever happened to ‘Hello’?”
“I’m fucking serious!” He sounded near hysterical. “Something happened and I… I don’t know what... but I must’ve done something wrong.”
“What is it?”
It took him a moment. “Kirishima…”
Her ears pricked. “Yes? What about her?”
“She said…” He gave a frustrated sigh. “Fuck, how do I do this?”
Mina wondered how to coax him without giving away too much. “Does it have anything to do with how odd she’s been acting?”
“You noticed too?”
“Bakugo, what did she say? I won’t make any jokes, I promise.”
After several seconds of silence, she was starting to wonder if they’d disconnected. Finally a small voice said. “I think she’s in love with me.”
He sounded too pathetic for her to be annoyed at how long it had taken him to notice the obvious. “Why do you say that?”
He took a breath. “We were sparring at the gym. And…”
“And…?”
“Something was wrong, dammit! But she wouldn’t tell me! Wouldn’t tell anyone ! I just… I couldn’t see her going through that shit… so I wouldn’t let her leave until she told me what it was! I wasn’t even thinking! I just….”
“Okay, okay.” She let him get it out. “Deep breath. You wouldn’t let her out. Then what?”
“She said… those magazine pictures made her spend even more time thinking about how amazing she thought I was.”
Mina kept calm. “And how did you feel about that?”
“Damn it Pinky! How do you think I felt?”
“I really have no idea! I’m not a mind reader!”
He gave a mirthless bark of laughter.“Like you haven’t already figured it out.”
“Assume that I haven’t.”
Another long silence. Then finally, obviously trying so hard not to reveal any of his gaping insecurities. “I felt like it wasn’t real… because I didn’t deserve any of it.”
“What happened after that?”
“She was gone.”
It sounded so bleak and final. Mina actually felt a lump forming in her throat.
“And that night,” he continued. “She sent me this long text message saying she wanted to stay friends… all that shit…”
“But, I don’t understand…’
“She was taking it all back!” His voice cracked a little. “I just wanted… I just needed to… Fuck I don’t know! I wanted to talk to her!”
Surely he’d made some mistake. That wasn’t what she’d told Kirishima to do at all.
“What… did the text say exactly?”
“Don’t try to raise my hopes, Ashido! She knew it was all a mistake! But that doesn’t mean she can’t talk face to face!”
“Will you just slow down a sec?! What hopes? What was a mistake?”
She heard an angry snarl, then a muffled BANG.
“My hopes,” he finally said, voice rigid. “That the most understanding, badass, incredible human being could feel the same way about me that I feel about her.”
She was biting her lip. “Bakugo, she does! I promise you! She’s crazy in love with you!”
“Then why…?” His voice broke again.
“I can’t tell you if I don’t know what that text said!”
He was quiet again.
“Are you angry with her?”
“Yes.”
“But do you love her?”
Nearly a full minute of silence this time.
“...Yes.”
“Do you think I would lie to you about this?”
She was pretty sure there was a faint sniffle at the other end. “No.”
“Then listen very carefully. I want you to think about everything you like about her, everything that you love.”
“But how’s that…?”
“And THEN,” She continued. “I want you to write it all down.”
“... What?”
“Write it all down. Every last thing. No matter how stupid or random it seems. Nobody's going to see it if you don’t want them to, you just need to be surrounded by reminders. Then, and only then, you need to call her and tell her what you’ve told me.”
“Tell her…”
“Tell her that it hurt when she left, and that you don’t understand the text. But that you love her.”
Again, nothing on the other end.
“You got that?”
Still nothing.
“Hello? You still there?”
“Sorry for wasting your time.” He murmured in a brittle voice. Then hung up.
“Wait! Argh! Bakugo you idiot!”
She texted him the words Tell Her! Several times before he finally responded hours later with Thanks for trying, now please leave me alone.
It took every ounce of self control to not hurl her phone out the window.
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And that was the last she heard from either of them.
By day three she was definitely worried. She asked some of their other mutual friends if they’d heard from them, but only got responses from five people who said they hadn’t gotten anything.
By the fourth day, her vivid imagination started to conjure up all the possible reasons for the silence, including but not limited to double abduction, secret elopment, or a suicide pact. Or even all of the above.
By day eight, she was a nervous wreck. Kirishiam hadn’t responded to any texts or voicemails. Neither had Bakugo. It was so not looking good.
Finally, during her lunch break. Her phone rang with the tone for Kirishima’s number.
Mina ignored her co-workers’ curious expressions as she dashed out of the cafeteria and into the women’s lounge.
“Kirishima Eijiro! Where the hell have you been?!”
“I’m really sorry!” Came the breathless answer. “My agency spent the last week busting up a smuggling ring that took longer than we thought, and apparently I’ve had my phone on airplane mode the whole time.”
Mina groaned, collapsing into the nearest seat. “Fuck, don’t do that to me. I’ve been up at nights wondering if you’d jumped into a volcano. You should see the bags under my eyes!”
“Holy flying fuck Mina, you were right!”
She frowned at having the subject diverted. “About what?”
“Bakugo!”
It took her a second. “Um, what about Bakugo am I right about?”
Kirishima gave a gusty laugh. “Everything!”
“Oh please tell me you had a happy resolution!”
“We did! It’s damn good!”
Relief washed over her. Since this was the moment she’d waited for over three years, it was small wonder Mina forgot what reason she had to be annoyed. “What happened? Oh tellmetellmetellme! ”
“I would’ve called you this morning, but we were having breakfast and...”
“Who’s we?”
“Me and Bakugo. He just…”
A squeal erupted from somewhere in Mina’s chest. “OH MY GOD!”
“What?!”
“Holy crap, you guys move fast!”
“What are you talking about?”
“You two had breakfast together! Breakfast! ”
“I don’t…” There was a slight rustling sound, like a sharp intake of air. “ Wait, you mean...NO! It wasn’t like that! It was perfectly innocent!”
Mina clasped a hand to her chest. “No hanky-panky yet? Damn! You really had me going there. ”
“No hanky-panky,” Her voice dropped a little in volume. “But there might’ve been kissing.”
Mina sat bolt upright with a gasp. “Don’t toy with me woman! You better be telling the truth!”
“For crying out loud, were you ever this invested in your own love life?”
She took a quick breath in and out.
“Kirishima, I know this is between you two and none of my business, but… I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE PHEROMONE CROSSFIRE FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS SO IF YOU’RE MESSING WITH ME I WILL LITERALLY DIE ‘CAUSE MY OLD HEART CAN’T TAKE ANY MORE DISAPPOINTMENT!”
“Okay! Calm down! Yes, I kissed him! He kissed me! There was kissing all around! And it was fucking awesome!”
Mina whooped, pumping her fist in the air. “Hallelujah!”
“And that’s not even the best part!”
“It gets better? You just said you guys didn’t do the do yet. What else could be better than…?” She broke off with a gasp. “Oh no… don’t tell me…”
“He fucking said it!”
“No! Bakugo… our Bakugo… said ‘I love you’?”
“Well it was more along the lines of ‘I fucking love you too or whatever!’, except more rushed, and flustered.”
“You said it too?”
“I did indeed!”
“Miracles DO happen! Oh my God, tell me everything!”
And Kirishima proceeded to do exactly that. The whole thing sounded like a plot straight from a rom-com, full of hurt feelings, misunderstandings, miscommunications, drunken confessions, tender moments…
“He actually stayed and made you breakfast?”
“What’s so crazy about that?”
“I’ve never heard of a guy making breakfast for his S.O. without having sex the night before!”
“Well apparently Bakugo Katsuki does. Best damn breakfast I’ve had in months.”
It was turning out even better than Mina had hoped. “Holy shit is he laying on the woo! God, I can’t wait to tell the boys!”
Kirishima cleared her throat. “Well, actually…”
“You’re right. It’s not my news to share. Sorry.”
“Actually, what I was about to say was, we talked it over, and decided not to tell them the conventional way.”
“What do you mean?”
She chuckled. “We’re gonna’ give those two a chance to figure it out for themselves.”
“How?”
“Oh, you’ll see.” Her tone was all wrapped up in smug.
“Well, color me intrigued! Can’t wait!”
____________________________________________________________________
It was Bakugo’s turn to pick the location for the squad’s semi-weekly hangout. Because he tended to put minimal effort in socializing, and claimed to be indifferent to the little tradition (not that anyone believed him for a moment) he simply decided on the neighborhood bar he and Kirishima often frequented.
So, no surprise that those two would be the first ones there.
Thanks to everyone’s hectic schedules, the meet-up didn’t happen until six days after The Event, (they were seriously thinking of renaming it the semi-monthly get-together) and by that time Mina was ready to burst with the anticipation of seeing Japan’s new power couple together at last.
So she took all the effort to arrive well before Kami and Sero did in order to give them a hard time.
At first glance from across the bar nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But a second look revealed that their sides were pressed together, and Bakugo had his arm draped on top of the seat right behind Kirishima’s shoulders.
So cute!
As soon as they saw her, Kirishima grinned and waved her over. Bakugo acknowledged her with a nod.
“Now who’s that?” she said once she was closer. “Not Bakugo and Kirishima, surely. Their both way too clueless to be that gooey and lovey-dovey with each other.”
Bakugo sighed. “Fine, go ahead and gloat. I deserve it.”
Mina clasped a hand to her own cheek. “My, how the flush glows on your cheeks.”
He shot his girlfriend an exhausted look. “You just HAD to tell her. Couldn’t wait five minutes to inform the foghorn.”
The redhead only gave him an innocent smile. “Hey, she let us cry on her shoulder, I figured it was the least we owed her.”
Mina slid into one of the chairs across from them. “Sooo… Kiri told me you guys have something fun planned for Sparky and Tape Wonder.”
Bakugo’s lips twitched. “ I think it’s fun.”
“Sounds… ominous.”
Kirishima grinned and shook her head. “Relax. We’re just going to see how many hints we can drop them before they notice something’s up.”
“Sound’s great! Can I help?”
“Yeah.” Bakugo said. “By not saying a damn thing.”
“Meanie.” Mina stuck her tongue at him.
He rolled his eyes. “That wasn’t a brushoff, Pinky. I seriously meant play dumb. Act like you don’t know what’s going on or see anything weird. Think you can handle that?”
“Oh fine. Leave me out, after all I did to orchestrate your coming together.”
“You’re gonna’ be milking that for years, aren’t you?”
Mina smiled at him. “Only four.”
He groaned. “What fresh hell have I created?”
“Hey Sero!” Kirishima waved at the entrance. “Over here, Bro!”
The other two both took that as their cue to shut up.
“Kirishima!” The tape hero greeted. “Glad to see you finally rejoin civilization! I heard things were pretty crazy at the Fatgum agency, what with the smugglers with the cheesy name.”
Kirishima gave a tired groan. “Crazy doesn’t cover it. What those douchebags lacked in originality, they made up for in stubbornness.”
Sero turned to Bakugo. “And glad to see you emerge from your troll-cave. Last time we talked, you sounded like you wanted to burn the whole world to the ground.”
“I did.” Bakugo deadpanned.
“Any particular reason why? Or was it just one of those days?”
He gave (what seemed to mina) a brief deliberate pause before answering. “Both, I guess.”
Sero waited expectantly, but clarification was not forthcoming. “Okayyyy….”
Kirishima, meanwhile had adopted a look that was maybe a little too innocent. And Mina struggled to hide a knowing smile.
There was a slight rehash of the earlier performance when Kaminari got there a few minutes later.
“Glad to see you didn’t go insane from the stress.” He told Kirishima.
She shrugged. “Yeah, well… I kinda’ needed some distractions at the time.”
“You’ve got plenty now.” Bakugo muttered non-too-subtly.
So that’s the route they were taking with this.
How could Mina resist? “Well, you’re definitely looking much more chipper.”
“Really?”
“Seriously, after talking to you on the phone the other day, I kept thinking ‘Wow, what’s gotten into her?’.”
Kirishima turned pink. “That... seems pretty extreme.”
“I mean, I don’t know what you’re doing differently, but whatever it is, it’s doing wonders. Your eyes are bright, your face is glowing…”
“Yes thank you Mina. ”
“Are you getting more exercise?”
Her friend glared at her. “You know I’m not.”
“Just thought I’d ask.”
Kirishima finally gave a resigned smile. “Not yet, but pretty soon.”
Bakugo raised an eyebrow, clearly amused at them both.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- .
The rest of the conversation continued along similar lines. At some point, Mina had to physically hold back a squeal of delight when she realized the couple had started holding hands under the table.
The other two didn’t notice. Sero did, however, notice them occasionally taking surreptitious sips from each other’s drinks, if the puzzled look darting across his face the fourth time it happened was anything to go by.
And they were just getting warmed up.
In addition to peppering all their verbal exchanges between themselves with little innuendos, they kept leaning into each other’s space, hooking a chin on the other’s shoulder, sneaking bites off each other’s plates, giving playful gestures of physical affection.
It was pretty similar to how they’d always acted around each other. Except turned up a few notches.
By the time Kirishima chucked Bakugo under the chin, even Kaminari was starting to look suspicious.
Mina had to hand it to them. They put on a damn good show.
Finally… either by his own design or thanks to the god of perfect timing, Kaminari dropped his napkin under the table and bent down to retrieve it.
Kirishima and Bakugo had never stopped holding hands this whole time.
Mina held her breath. 3… 2… 1…
“HOLY SHI…!”
The electrical hero’s head banged against the underside of the table, nearly upsetting the drinks. He emerged with his eyes bugged out, rubbing his cranium with one hand and pointing across the table with the other.
“YOU’RE HOLDING HANDS!!”
“What?” Sero ducked down to take a look for himself, letting out a squawk. “MY GOD, THEY ARE!!”
The couple maintained neutral expressions. “Yeah. So?” Kirishima asked.
Kaminari appeared to be on the verge of a stroke. “So?! SO?!”
“Keep yer’ voice down.” Bakugo grumbled.
“ Why are you two holding hands?” Sero demanded.
Kirishima shrugged. “Why not?”
Sero gave a sharp wheeze. Kaminari started blinking rapidly, as if experiencing a software malfunction. “But… but…!”
“What the hell’s going on?” Sero hissed. “Don’t tell me you two actually… finally…”
“Got hold of their senses?” Mina suggested, gaining the boys’ attention.
Kaminari finally regained the mastery of speech. “Why aren’t you surprised by this?!”
She smiled sweetly. “Because I saw it happening behind the scenes.”
“And you didn’t tell us?!”
“Come on!” Sero whined. “We’ve been suffering right along with you all these years!”
Mina shrugged. “Sorry, but I was acting in strict confidence.”
Sero turned back to Kirishima and Bakugo. “How did this even happen?”
Kirishima rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, it’s kind of a long story…”
“We had a fight.” Her boyfriend stated bluntly. “Then made nice.”
“You’re a terrible storyteller.” Mina complained.
“What was the fight about?” Kaminari asked.
Bakugo shrugged. “I was too hot for her to handle.”
“That’s NOT what I said!”
“Sure it was. You said I was so handsome and amazing that it was driving you crazy, and you couldn’t get me out of your head.”
She gave him a small shove, but failed to keep a smile off her face. “You would spin it that way, you vain bastard.”
“That is basically what you told me you said.” Mina pointed out.
Kirishima made a face. “Who’s side are you on?”
“I can’t believe it.” Sero muttered. “This is really happening.”
“So wait, that means…” Kaminari pointed at Kirishima. “ You made the first move.”
“Uh…” She blinked. “I did?”
“You so did.” Bakugo said with a faint smirk.
She started to smile at the memory. “Oh yeah…”
Kaminari raised both fists in the air. “YES! I knew it! I knew she would!”
Sero rolled his eyes. “So did 95% of our classmates.”
Kaminari drooped. “Oh yeah. Dammit.”
Bakugo’s eyebrows came together in a suspicious look. “Wait, what’re you going on about?”
The table suddenly went quiet.
The girls exchanged a look. “You didn’t tell him?” Mina asked.
“What do you think?”
“Tell me what?” Bakugo demanded.
“Well…” Kirishima gave a nervous laugh. “You're not gonna’ believe this, but it seems our former classmates might’ve placed a few bets…”
“ BETS?!”
“Yeah, and one of them was on which of us would be the first to… crack down.”
Bakugo looked thunderous. “HEH?!”
“And it was Kirishima.” Sero added smugly. “Surprise surprise.”
If looks could kill, Bakugo would’ve vaporized the three of them seconds ago.
“DON’T YOU EXTRAS HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOURSELVES THAN MAKE BETS ON OUR LOVE-LIVES?!”
“Not just yours.” Mina supplied.
“Mina, ix-nay!” Kirishima hissed.
Bakugo’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “Who else?!”
“Midoriya and Uraraka.” Kaminari piped up, apparently enjoying himself a little too much.
“What about them?”
Kirishima buried her face in her hand.
Kaminari ignored the warning signs. “There were some differing opinions on which couple would get together first and, well, you remember what happened.”
A muscle in Bakugo’s face started twitching, fingers curling. Mina got a whiff of that familiar burned sugar smell.
“FUCKING DEKU BEAT ME AT THAT TOO?!”
Kirishima glared at her friends. “Anybody got something else they’d like to add to the pot?”
Bakugo managed to calm somewhat after a few breaths. “Did you know about this?” He asked Kirishima.
“The bets? Only a few days longer than you have.”
“And you didn’t think to mention it?”
“I was going to. Preferably after getting you alone and waiting ‘till you were in a more… receptive mood. Oh, don’t look at me like that. Nobody’s making fun of you.”
“Or you?”
“Or me.”
He pressed his lips together in a thin line, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed. For a moment he said nothing, his anger dimming into something different.
He glanced back at Kirishima with hooded eyelids. “You’re gonna’ be sorry for that.”
She raised a skeptical eyebrow. “I am?”
“Yeah…” His lips pulled into a slow, wicked smile.
“... Eijiro. ”
Kirishima’s glass shattered in her hand, red flooding her cheeks.
“Whoah!” Kaminari gasped.”You okay?”
Ignoring him, Bakugo extracted his credit card to pay his tab. “Getting kinda’ late.” He drawled in a bored tone before glancing back at his girlfriend. “Ready to head out?”
For a full second she didn’t speak or move, stuck in that dazed look.
Then she blurted out, “YES! I mean…” If possible she was looking even redder. “Sure, yeah, sounds…” She cleared her throat. “Let’s go…” Then added in a strangled voice, “...Katsuki.”
“Aw! You’re leaving already?” Kaminari pouted.
Kirishima fumbled with her jacket, trying a little too hard to look nonchalant. “Yeah, well… you know how it is. Busy schedule… stuff to do…”
“Like what?” Sero asked.
“Like, none of your business.” Bakugo retorted.
“Someone’s wound tightly.”
Mina swore she heard Bakugo mutter, “Not for long.” as he took Kirishima’s hand and headed toward the exit.
She gave them a hasty wave over her shoulder. “Well that was great! Seeyoulaterbyeguys! ”
Sero shot his remaining companions a confused look. “What just happened?”
“I dunno’” Kaminari shuddered. “And I think I’d rather leave it that way.”
Sero’s mouth twisted a little to the side. “So, now what?”
Smiling, Mina pulled a pen and notepad out of her purse.
“I’ve got just two words for ya’: Baby Pool.”
“Baby pool?” Kaminari sputtered. “Holy shit! Are they pregnant already?”
“Of course not! They’ve only been officially dating for a week now!”
“And even if they were, it would take at least another week before they even noticed anything.” Sero pointed out.
Kaminari’s eyes widened. “It would?”
“Please tell me you’re joking.”
“How long does it take… I mean, from the point of conception?”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“Get off my back! They never mentioned that part in Biology Class!”
“ANYWAY…” Mina interrupted them before it could continue. “It’s probably not going to be for a looong time now, but I figure, why not get started now?”
Sero made a face. “I feel like a vulture.”
“Hey, I already warned Kiri about it, and she never asked me to stop. And I’ve got ten thousand yen that says in five years they’ll be having a healthy, robust baby boy of eight pounds.”
“This is so redic...EIGHT pounds?”
“Christ!” Kaminari exclaimed. “That’s gotta’ be… what? Two pounds above the national average?”
“Well, I figured that since they’re both healthy, sturdy people who’re taller than average ... plus Kiri eats a lot of protein, which… I dunno’, might be a factor…”
Sero shook his head. “Well, for her sake I’m gonna’ say seven pounds.” He paused before adding. “And it’ll be a girl.”
“Excellent!” Mina flipped open her book. “And how much are you betting?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“You’re both wrong.” Kaminari declared. “This is Bakugo and Kirishima we’re talking about. They take everything to the extreme. I say, in four years they’ll have twins . A boy and a girl, around six and a half pounds each.”
“You’re on!”
__________________________________________________________
“So, how’s the whole dating-your-crush thing going?” Mina asked when Kirishima came over for coffee a couple days later.
“Pretty awesome.” She said with a bright smile. “All the advantages of being best friends, but with a lot more kissing and stuff like that.”
Mina grinned. “Cuddling too?”
“You bet your sweet acid, kid.”
Mina bit her lip. “I can’t help wondering, did you guys talk about when you wanted to… seal the deal, if you know what I mean.”
Kirishima chuckled. “I’m impressed you got this far without asking.”
“You don’t have to answer.” She assured her. “Just idle curiosity.”
The redhead folded her lower lip between her teeth. “He asked me how I felt about it.”
Mina leaned forward eagerly. “And?”
“I figured we weren’t at that level until he was comfortable with being on a given-name basis.”
“Makes sense.”
She was about to take a sip of her coffee when she remembered something. “Wait, didn’t you use each other’s given name at the bar the other night?”
Kirishima looked straight at her.“Yup.”
Mina felt her mouth fall open.
Oh.
My.
GOD!
“That… was the first time you… used given names, wasn’t it?”
“Yup.”
She clapped a hand over her mouth.
A few things from that night were suddenly making sense.
“And…” She struggled to keep her tone even. “... How was it?”
Kirishima’s only response was a wide, toothy grin.
The shriek Mina emitted probably set off a few car alarms across the street.