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Satou could say with certainty that he was one of the more observant people in the class, well aside from Midoriya, but he was on a whole other hill of observation- it was almost, nope definitely, creepy. Satou noticed the little things- the little downturned pout Yaoyorozu made when one of her creations came out wonky, Kaminari’s slight stutter when he was nervous, or the way Ashido bounced on her heels when she was happy. All the little things that made his classmates. Which is why he could say something was most definitely bothering Bakugou- well, more than usual that is.
Bakugou had been sluggish for the better part of the week- like his heart just wasn’t into it. He was still his usual explosive self during hero class, but hardly anything could keep him from blowing things up and sparring till he dropped. But the moment he stepped into the dorms, he just...stopped in a way. His normal expletives seem to fall away to the wind, and his usual “top of the world” attitude dissipates almost completely.
Occasionally he’d sit on the couch with his squad, but he’d barely speak. Like nothing could grab his attention long enough for any kind of commentary. But usually, Bakugou just stayed in his room- avoiding all human contact. Though, sometimes Satou would catch him sitting out of the windows looking...almost wistful.
It reminded him a bit of when his foster sister used to go through bouts of... homesickness.
Was...was Bakugou homesick?
--
Bakugou knew he wasn’t putting in his all- not into classwork, heroics, or..or his friends. And he was fucking disappointed in himself- no matter how hard he tries, this feeling just doesn’t go away. Every so often he just...kinda lets himself go. And he knows how much of a pussy it makes him, his mother tells him as such, but he just...he doesn’t know how to make it stop.
It clamors in his head- pushing and rattling around until he can’t ignore it anymore.
Sometimes it whispers to him-
You’re just a stranger here.
No one wants you.
-whispers horrible things.
You don’t belong here- a puzzle piece forced into place.
You’re not their friend- they just pity you.
Silly little boy thinks he’s one of them.
He tells it to shut up, to go away and leave him be. But he knows they’re right. He’s the stranger in the strange land- always has been, always will be.
--
Sometimes he just wants to run away- catch a plane, and never look back. But...but he knows there’s no one waiting for him there. His Baba is gone, and his parents...well they wouldn’t care. They’re hardly at the house anymore, he doubts they would even notice he left.
His friends would...Kirishima would miss him.
Bakugou thinks he would miss him too.
Maybe a bit more than he thinks he should.
--
Satou decided he was tired of seeing his classmate mope around, so he devised the perfect plan. Operation: Cheer up Bakugou (a sentence Satou never thought he’d ever have to say) was a go.
He spent most of the weekend searching the internet for the best recipe- he wanted his surprise to be perfect. It was a fairly simple recipe, but it wasn’t something he’d ever made before. Russian cuisine was quite a bit out of his comfort zone- but he’s a hero, and heroes give it their all! Plus Ultra and all that.
He just hoped Bakugou liked it.
--
Weariness weighed down on Bakuogu’s body- his joints aching for relief he would not grant them. He’d gone day on autopilot- the haze in his mind clogging any sort of coherent thought. He just wanted to lay his head down on his Baba’s lap, and he yearned to hear her soothing voice. But..but that wouldn't happen. It was an ache in his bones that would never go away.
Sometimes he could still hear her- whispering little words of encouragement in his ear, or quietly humming a lullaby. He thinks back to when she’d read him bedtime stories as she rocked him to sleep- something his parents never did.
( “Once upon a time, in a town in fairyland, lived some people called the Mites. They were called the Mites because they were very tiny. The biggest of them was no bigger than a pine cone.”
“A pine cone? But that's so small!”
“Indeed it is, you were almost that small once.”
“Really? Does that mean I’m a mite?” He smiles brightly at her- his eyes wide and full of wonder.
She chuckles quietly and kisses the top of his head. “I suppose it does, my dearest.” )
He supposes he must have fallen asleep because he can smell fresh pirozhki- his favorite dish when he was a child. The warm savory bread filled with the bittersweetness of cooked cabbage or perfectly seasoned beef. His Baba always made the best Pirozhki, neither his mother nor father even quite managed to hit the mark (though he was grateful all the same.).
Slowly he finds his way to wakefulness, but the lingering scent of fresh bread and cabbage never seems to leave. And for a split second, he wonders if his Baba cooked dinner again.
When he sits up, a wave of disappointment falls over him at the absence of familiar singing. But he makes his way to the kitchen regardless- hoping that just maybe…
...just maybe she was home one more time.
--
It’s perfect timing- Satou’s just pulling the pirozhki out of the oven when a certain blind walks in. Bakugou shuffles into the kitchen half asleep- and Satou idly wonders if Bakugou had fallen asleep on the couch again.
“Ah, Bakugou-Kun! I was just about to call you down. I uh-” Satou scratches the back of his head- a slight dusting of blush covering his cheeks. “I noticed you weren’t feeling great, so I cooked something up. I tried to make it as authentic as possible, but I’ve never really made anything Russian before.”
Bakugou stares wide-eyed at the tray of Pirozhki on the kitchen island. He looks almost like a deer caught in the headlights.
“Eh…?” Bakugou says with eloquence only he could manage. “You- what?”
“Well it’s just that..you seemed a bit homesick, and I remember you said you were from Russia, and well… If you don’t like them I can make something else!” Satou fidgets with his fingers and Bakugou stares at the dish.
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try one.” Without much fuss, Bakugou grabs one of the hot buns and sinks his teeth into it. He takes a second to finish his bite, and for a split second Satou thinks he might throw it out. But...but Bakugou just smiles fondly down at the bun. “Not bad, Sugar Tits.”
He likes them! Satou smiles and pushes the tray closer to Bakugou- who greedily shoves another in his mouth.
Wait S-Sugar Tits??
Well, It’s better than Diabetes…
--
He hadn’t imagined it- someone really had been making pirozhki. Satou stood in the kitchen with a tray of freshly baked buns with a nervous smile. Bakugou hardly paid attention to the words he said- he was too enamored with the familiar scent of home. They smelled nearly exactly like how his Baba made them- and tasted nearly as good. Cabbage juice spilled down his chin as he greedily took another bite.
They weren’t hers, no one could compare to his Baba- but they were...they were nice. They were different, but maybe- just maybe they would help build his new home.