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Bakugou and Uraraka walked along a sidewalk filled with teenagers near one of Musutafu’s open air malls, boisterous voices cutting through the chilly air. Some picked their way carefully trying to avoid any potential ice, others stubbornly pushed forward, their boots leaving imprints on any of the remaining snow.
They walked against the flow, Bakugou subtly weaving, making sure not to touch any of the extras, while staying beside Round Face. Given their size difference there was the issue of gait too so he felt like he was mincing his way forward slower even than any of those idiots in heels.
Heels in the winter, just to hang out at a mall?
Who had time for malls?
He and Round Face were just coming out of gymnastics practice, and since they were late ran into this damned crowd. It had been worth it. After the first eighty minutes they allowed quirks, and him and Uraraka made the most of it.
When he first managed to successfully take flight with his quirk, was the first time he was awed at what his abilities let him do.
But the first time he blasted in Zero G, it lifted his heart higher than how far he fell for the BAMF that was Uraraka.
They continued in silence for several minutes, finally putting the crowd behind them. He tried not to take a sigh of relief, especially since his attention could snap to fully being distracted by Round Face.
He hoped she was quiet to give him peace from the crowd. She was a thoughtful friend, even with people who weren’t her friends. He still wasn’t sure if he was, and it was infuriating.
“Bakugou, look out that way. Isn’t it so pretty?” Uraraka grabbed his shoulder to spin him. Her strawberry shampoo assaulted his nose, and he had to process her hand on his shoulder before he could figure out what she was looking at.
Not that they never touched. In hero exercises, and during the gymnastics course even more. But this was different, outside of structured activity, and when it was just the two of them.
That was not why he invited her to join the class, of course. He had been looking for ways to improve his mobility in the air with his quirk. Blasting forward and up was too obvious. Once he learned more about his own movement in space, the more he observed and analyzed it in others.
And he never minded observing Uraraka more. She was a baffling. The most fearsome in the class—behind him—but it was wrapped up in a cute pink puffball, and round in too many distracting places. He at first thought she was trying to fool them all in order to maintain an advantage over her peers in school. Gradually he realized she had also fooled herself.
Rescue was admirable, but with her quirk and determination it would be a shame to miss her on the battle field. So it was purely for her own growth, confidence more than dexterity, that he invited her. Not that he wished for some privacy. There were others in the class, but it was away from all their extra classmates, especially away from Deku.
Once a week for barely two hours, she was his. The last half hour when they practiced with quirks on were the best part of his week. They were working on combos, swinging each other about with their respective powers. He would gladly orbit her from the rest of their days.
But the class was wrapping up, and he doubted she’d join him from another. She somehow figured out the true cost and that he’d been covering her. While she hadn’t confronted him he knew she didn’t take charity well, and only her practicality kept her here. What was paid was already paid.
Shitty-hair had been after him long before his ‘scheme’—Kiri’s words not his—and after each time they returned from class with no reaction from Uraraka Kirishima extolled the manliness of baring your emotions.
“What if she says no? What if she thinks I’m a creep or a pervert like Mineta?”
“Anyone who thinks you resemble Mineta in any way deserves a United States of Smash to the face.”
“Okay, but she’ll-”
“She will be impressed you said anything! Girls dig feelings.” Kirishima’s shark teeth grin was terrifyingly delightful, not that Bakugou would ever admit it. He had been entirely too smug since Pinky agreed to date him.
“You always kill anything you set your mind to. Make a big gesture.”
“A gesture?” Bakugou twirled his hand, summoning a spark and the tiniest bit of smoke, restraining the explosion.
“Not like that. Something big, obvious, sweet. Something that can’t be mistaken for anything else.”
Bakugou snorted. “You mean romantic?”
“Well, isn’t that where you want to go with her?”
And after weeks of teasing, her quick casual touch was sending shivers down his arm and into his core. He was embarrassingly gone for her.
But once the initial panic wore off, he saw what she meant. They had crossed an overlook, and almost all of Musutafu lay out before them, glittering with the small frost that hadn’t melted from the day. The only thing higher up was UA, but they were never on the rim of the grounds to enjoy the view.
“Pretty, that’s all you have to say, Round Face?!” People called Uraraka pretty too, but the word was woefully insufficient. Couldn’t they see how lovely she was?
Bakugou hummed in his throat, checking that he hadn’t abused his vocal chords too much today. You said a gesture, eh Kirishima?
He turned to be sure he couldn’t see her face and sang.
“The sun is nearly gone,”
“the lights are turning on,”
“Like a silver shine that stretches to the sea.” He held the eeee on a higher note, indicating there was more to follow. Not just a better description than pretty.
Maybe he was psyching himself up too.
“We’ve stumbled on a view,
“That’s tailor made for two…”
Don’t look, don’t look, keep your eyes forward. There are trees, houses, anything but her. Just say it, don’t think it. If you say it, it’s all on her, and he can… why hadn’t she said anything yet?
“What a shame those two are you and me.”
No, that’s not what he meant. She, is she still there? Hearing him? Why was she still quiet?
He could still do this.
“Some other girl, and guy… would love this swirling sky.”
Well that’s true, she was right, it is a lovely sky.
“But there’s only you and I…” Why the hell did he decide to do this. She wasn’t, she couldn’t. She was never going to see him like that. He didn’t need the distraction. Maybe they shouldn’t even be friends. It would be easy to turn her away.
“… and we’ve got, no shot.”
He glanced back, he couldn’t help it.
She was stock still, eyes even wider than normal, but otherwise her face blank.
Like she was stunned.
But not a happy stunned. Not even just a surprised stunned.
He shouldn’t have done this. Shouldn’t be doing this. He should focus on number one. No, he could multi-task, he could do anything.
But everything didn’t necessarily like him.
“This could never be. You’re not the type for me.”
“Really?”
He peeked again, and she ducked. She’s hiding now. She was embarrassed.
For him, for sharing his feelings? Despite how poorly.
Because of him? That he thought she might even consider him?
Pressure grew in his hands and his sweat pooled. Too bad he didn’t have his grenadiers, they would have filled instantly.
“And there’s not a spark in sight.”
End this, he needed to stop it, back up. He told her pretty wasn’t the right words, he need to bring this back to the view. Why else would he randomly burst into song like some silly musical.
“What a waste of a lovely night.”
#
One minute Uraraka was trotting along with Bakugou, riding the natural high from a great training session… and then the next Bakugou started singing.
Softly, sweetly, at decibels she didn’t even know he was capable of reaching. She barely heard his voice, but somehow the words found her ear, tickling even. She resisted the urge to move the slightest twitch. He didn’t want him to think she was laughing at him.
“The sun is nearly gone. The lights are turning on, like a silver shine that stretches to sea.”
“We’ve stumbled on a view, that’s tailor made for two…”
That was almost poetic. He was right, pretty wasn’t good enough for tonight. But what did he possibly mean about two? There were several people here. Not as much near the mall, but it wasn’t like it was just the two of them.
“What a shame those two are you and me.”
Wait, did he, did he think this view was romantic? Did he want to share this view with someone?
Maybe it was a mistake. Did Bakugou even know what romance was?
“Some other girl, and guy… would love this swirly sky.”
Ah, he just meant in general. When did he get so poetic?
That resolved that debate, she was going to ask him for help with her English homework. Kirishima and his pals certainly made him somehow. But what could force Bakugou to do anything? Did they have some sort of blackmail? Nah, that’d be mean, she should just ask him. Maybe after gymnastics, they could spend the whole night together. That would be fun, a blast with blasty boy!
“But there’s only you and I, and we’ve got, no shot.”
Them? Was he talking about them? Did he think she liked him?
Definitely no study date then.
Date, she didn’t mean a date, just a study session! On a regular basis.
She desperately needed the help in English, that was all.
Uraraka was friendly with Bakugou, but she was friendly with everyone, people should be friendly.
She admired him. How could you not? He was fierce, someone they could all measure themselves against.
Their sports festival fight changed her life. She left the ring lost, broken, and of course mourning the opportunities she would miss out on. But there was no where to go but up, and she only just realized then how much further up could be.
The only person stopping her from reaching the stratosphere was herself.
Could she like him? No, she must just not be understanding him.
“This could never be. You’re not the type for me.”
“Really?” She hissed. That arrogant dummy. He was breaking up with her before they even became anything? Wait, not that she wanted anything. She wasn’t really looking for anything, she had to become a hero, the best hero, so she could support her family. There was no time for romance.
Besides, if she might want anything, not that she did, it would be Deku, of course. He was her best friend!
“And there’s not a spark in sight. What a waste of a lovely night.”
She hesitated a moment, but he said nothing else.
Good. Time to give him a piece of her mind.
Uraraka yanked him by the scarf, hard. He could take it. She almost yelled ‘look at me,’ but she could play his sing song game too.
“You say there’s nothing here? Well, let’s make something clear.”
“I think I’ll be the one to make that call.”
“What’s your call?”
He was taunting her? He riled her up, he should just take it with grace. But maybe this was his way of putting her down? Even more? He never picked on her as much as other folks, because she didn’t let him. Well, she still wouldn’t right now.
“And though you look so cute, in your polyester suit.”
“It’s wool.”
She knew.
“You’re right, I’d never fall for you at all.”
Ah, no snappy responses now?
But why was her heart beating like running up a hill? They were on top of the hill and she wasn’t going anywhere. She merely twirled between them.
You can’t not look at me when you insult me, buddy.
“And maybe this appeals, to someone dressed in heels.”
No matter how you felt about Bakugou’s personality, he was undeniably handsome. When he made pro, there were going to be a lot of women throwing themselves at him.
But she knew better.
Besides, it wasn’t fair. Why did men to get to look so good, but not thought less capable? She couldn’t even be over sexualized like Momo, the poor girl. Uraraka was already being type cast as cutsie, which was worse.
She would just have to kick ass that much harder and prove them all wrong.
But Bakugou was really the first one that showed she wasn’t frail. He took her seriously, and in retrospect she did almost got him.
“Or to any girl who feels, there’s some chance, for romance.”
Maybe there was one with Bakugou. She still didn’t know where his words came from, and to think of singing? What inspired it, and where?
Maybe those girls who were going to fall for him weren’t as in trouble as she thought. Maybe he wouldn’t be so bad as a boyfriend.
“But, I’m frankly feeling nothing.”
“Is that so?”
Jerk. “Or, it could be less than nothing.”
He stepped to face her, and she barely recognized him. His red eyes twinkled, and a smile played across his face. Bakugou had been messing with her? Why?
“Good to know. So you agree?”
To what?
That we’re not together?
Or the night is pretty? No, that word was an insult worse than what he was putting her through. What had he said?
“That’s right.”
“What a waste of a lovely night.”
“What a waste of a lovely night.”
Somehow, despite her mind going a mile a minute, they said those words at exactly the same time.
It wasn’t just her heart beating, her whole body quaked now. For someone who was so straight forward, and painfully honest, something did not add up. What Bakugou said was clearly what he meant, but his face was lit up brighter than Kirishima’s ever could be.
Now that she experienced it, a small part of her wanted to see that side of him more.
But whatever glimpse he gave her was not meant for Uraraka, and she was sadder than she realized. Maybe, if they were both still and silent, they could just enjoy the sight for a bit longer. At some point people had given them a wide berth, and they were standing alone. But then a green mop jumped into view.
For the first time, she was disappointed to see Deku.
#
Bakugou’s scarf pulled him back, and he had to stumble to get his balance. She practically choked him! Then damn his mind, it flew to much more enjoyable ways to be choked by Round Face.
She was no longer shocked and still. Her eyes flared and smile breathtaking. Maybe he hadn’t messed up. Could she like him too?
Even after what he said?
“You say there’s nothing here? Well, let’s make something clear.”
She was singing… she was singing right back to him? Uraraka was playing his silly game, right back at him?
“I think I’ll be the one to make that call.”
He was gone, he was done for her. No doubt in his mind anymore.
But he also didn’t miss her actual words. She had the power here, and he knew it for a while now. That’s part of why he craved her. But she hadn’t said what she meant to do with it, with his stupid, teenage, hormonal heart.
“What’s your call?”
Pathetic, yes, but he had to know.
He could be pathetic for Uraraka. Her, and only her.
“And though you look so cute, in your polyester suit.”
“It’s wool.”
Did she not have eyes? Like his parents would let him run around in polyester anything. Her leotard was second hand cheap, and yellow wasn’t her color, but he knew he had already pushed his luck helping with the lessons. If he ‘found’ her a new leotard, she would have a fit bigger than bird breath’s shadow friend let loose at night.
“You’re right, I’d never fall for you at all.”
If he thought it was agony trying to get out of the own hole he dug by singing, this was worse.
She dumped him before he could even try.
Sure, he’d gotten all his words messed up, but he wasn’t good at this stuff. If she cared for him, she would know that… but then, that’s what she was saying, she didn’t.
Round Face really did see them just as friends. And hopefully after this stunt she’d still be at least that with him.
“And maybe this appeals, to someone dressed in heels.”
What the heck did that mean? Like he’d pander to some woman tottering on heels.
Unless, she dressed in heels, maybe he’d like them then. But Round Face could float, she didn’t need shoes to make her taller. And she didn’t need to be taller, she was just the right height to him. He had imagined too many times tipping her chin up as he swooped down to meet her sweet lips.
“Or to any girl who feels, there’s some chance, for romance.”
Romance, that’s what this whole thing was about! He was trying to show he could be romantic. Or at least try at it. Damn shitty-hair for putting the idea in his head. Bakugou hated that he was going to have to go back to him for more concrete advice. That is, if he still even had a shot.
He glanced, and she smiled, hands cupped. That must mean something. She couldn’t be getting all mushy about other girls. What a stupid possibility, him with girls other than her.
“But, I’m frankly feeling nothing.”
What if she couldn’t say it right, just like him? That smile a moment ago, he wished he could pinch those plump round cheeks.
“Is that so?”
“Or, it could be less than nothing.”
Oh, that was her fight face. The coy one, right when she was about to wreck you. Less than nothing? How could you have less than nothing, there must be something? She was teasing, right?
This is it, Uraraka, the real fight starts now.
“Good to know. So you agree?”
“That’s right.”
She kind of understood, that’s all he needed for now. There was a chance… but after this disastrous singing he’d wait, take it slow.
“What a waste of a lovely night.”
“What a waste of a lovely night.”
They ended it together. They were already so in sync, did she see it?
Bakugou panted, breath rushing almost as hard as he had from a workout, and he was just as sweaty. It dribbled down his arms, starting to gather enough to dampen his leotard. Why was he wearing so many layers? He was so cold a few moments ago, but now? He blazed.
He was surprised his pride didn’t drive him to his normal scowl in an attempt to hide he was effected by this. His body refused to move, to change, to act. He was a prisoner of his mind, running a mile a minute. Waiting.
Waiting for Uraraka.
Say something else, please.
Her words, her response, was the rejection he knew must be there? But then she sang, she continued to sing. She could have simply walked away, told him to shut up, or just waited his outburst out.
But he had hedged his bets too. Wasn’t that why he said it liked this? Confessed? So that when—if she didn’t reciprocate it wouldn’t be… no, not pride. Awkward. Because stupidly, he wanted to still be around her. He knew she was just his friend because she was friendly with everyone, but that was better than nothing.
Better than hiding his admiration from a far.
The more he thought, the more silent her silence continued. But his mind was starting to recover from his emotional overextension and he could read more. This was probably the most he emoted all week, shitty-hair and the rest of the extras were distracted studying for the next math test.
She quivered, chest rapidly rising and falling—don’t look at her chest! Was she panting too? Her eyes hadn’t left his. Was she still looking at him? Trying to read him just as he was her?
There was still a chance, he just had to do something, now, his pride be damned. He needed to risk actually putting himself out there.
“Ura—”
Her eyes shot wide before he could even finish her name.
“D-d-d-d- Deku?”
Deku, why was it always Deku? Why did Deku have to take this from him too, before he even knew he wanted it? Did she realize he was better than him?
Bakugou sensed someone behind him, so spun around and growled. Deku was here. Given his one-for-all reflexes, Bakugou couldn’t be sure if Deku was here already when Uraraka said his name, or she summoned him on command.
His mind releasing his attention on Uraraka invited the rest of the world to rush in. If it were going to be more than the two of them, especially if it were going to be that nerd, it might as well be everything else. Full night had fallen, and with it the cacophony of damn extras with their raised voices, chanting raucous relief. Couldn’t they be anywhere else?
“Deku.” Uraraka’s voice transformed back into her bubbly mask. All trace of her sassy response, and even the fire from their training earlier, gone. “Did you know Bakugou had such a lovely voice?”
His voice? She was just going along with the singing? Not what he was saying? Not that he even was saying anything? Some tension released in his face. He should be relieved to have use of his jaw again, but he’d rather have kept it tight than realize what an idiot he had been.
Almost as bad as Deku.
“Of o-o-of course, Uraraka. Kaachan is good at everything.”
He kept his gaze on Deku, not behind, not towards her. When had that nerd become less afraid of him? He should be quaking, but now only rubbed the back of his head, and flashed a wide smile. A smile so wide it pushed his cheek bones up and drove his eyes into a squint.
Was that it? Could Deku not see his glare? Is that why he wouldn’t shut up?
“Actually, he picked up the drums to stop people from pestering him for all the school musicals. Oh, Kaachan? Is that where you picked up calling on your peers extras?”
“Oi,” he yelled. “If I didn’t want to do something, I would say it straight up!”
Her giggle forced him to swing back. “That’s what I like about you Bakugou, you’re never afraid to speak up!”
Except right now. He couldn’t live up to what she thought of him, and that made him even more pathetic.
But she didn’t know that, she never needed to know.
“Damn straight.” He stuck his chin up and barely looked at Deku as he passed. “Enjoy the view.”
And he finished his walk back to the school by himself.
#
Bakugou’s caramel smell lingered in Uraraka’s nose as she tried to puzzle out what Bakugou had meant. Strange she hadn’t noticed it earlier, she must have been too distracted. Or maybe he was only sweating once he took off quickly, feet dragging through the slush, shoving it aside as if another obstacle he barely acknowledged.
She was too distracted for Deku’s chatter and frankly didn’t care why he’d been off campus and near the gymnast studio as well. He never had to justify himself to her, she always enjoyed being with him.
But she would enjoy right now better with some weight off her mind.
“Hey, Deku? Do you think Bakugou likes someone?”
His jaw tightened and fists clenched, squeezing his book bag. Normally Uraraka liked how expressive he was, his feelings shone through his plain features, but this she couldn’t read. Why would a question about Bakugou’s feelings make him defensive?
Had she hit a nerve? Bakugou could still be a lot nicer to Deku, but they seemed to have settled into a fair rivalry, one with one sided adoration. Deku really was too good for any of them.
“I think he likes several someones. He just isn’t good-”
“… at expressing it?” Bakugou was far from a heartless sociopath. It was unfortunate that by her age she had already met some. If no one else, Kirishima was his rock, literally sometimes, no matter how much he berated him.
Of course Deku had taken her question platonically. She wouldn’t clarify, it was silly of her to ask. Besides, would it give Deku wrong ideas? No matter how weird their song was, it really wasn’t her place to know, was it?
“Well, yes, but that wasn’t what I meant to say.” Deku stopped, his eyes flicking toward the gate to UA, but Bakugou had long crossed that threshold. “I think he feels, a lot. He’s the most passionate person I know. Bakugou never does anything by halves.” Deku paused and his thoughtful face blossomed into a ray of sunshine. Uraraka had to resist cooing at how cute he was.
“I know it seems like we’re always fighting each other, but he actually inspired me a lot when we were growing up.”
She whispered a quick, “I know.” She had heard versions of the stories before, Deku was such an open book, he couldn’t keep a secret if he tried.
“I think he feels so much that it hurts. A hero means saving everyone, but when everyone includes your friends, you’re fighting your own pain too. It isn’t- it won’t be easy.” He blushed. “The best way to protect yourself is to simply not make those bonds in the first place.”
Could that be true? Callous brash Bakugou not just care, but want to dote on them more than Iida or Momo? Could he want to encourage everyone more than Mina? Could his feelings be even more ‘manly’ than Kirishima's? And if Deku was saying this, could his selflessness be stronger than Deku’s?
Could he care for her more than she did for him?
Guilt suddenly swelled within her, going straight to her stomach like when she used her quirk, but worse. It was as if she lost the gravity of her entire understanding of the universe.
Maybe he wasn’t just being critical when he suggested—more like demanded—she joined his gymnast classes. Maybe he didn’t see her as a charity case. It hadn’t taken her long to realize that UA students did not have use of the facilities for free, and she had to stave off that rage every time they arrived.
Maybe he wanted another friend, but was cautious to say so.
And she had just teased him.
Granted he was mean first… ‘No shot?’ And instead of just telling him off, she goaded him, because maybe a teeny-tiny part of her thought his song was going somewhere else. Wouldn’t that be something? Someone as intense, dedicated, and strong as Bakugou could like…
Wait, that was it! Maybe he did have a crush on a girl, and this was a round about way for asking for help? It wasn’t like he had any girl friends. Mina was closest, but anything he said would go in one ear and straight to whoever his crush might be.
Okay, it was decided. She was going to help him get that girl, whoever it was. And, if she read too much into things, then she was going to at least be a better friend.
She pumped her arms, and her cheeks flushed, probably from the cold.
“Deku?” She was surprised he hadn’t interrupted her reflection, but the opposite was true. Deku was mumbling, eyes on the sidewalk as if mentally scratching equations in the slush.
“Deku?” When he still didn’t respond, she shook him, and winced as she hit the brick wall that was Deku. She always forgot how built he was. How, and why, did he hide it so well?
“Uraraka, yes?” He blinked. “I guess I went off again. Don’t you think it’s worth an understanding of how to balance development of camaraderie for cooperation in the field, versus having the resolve to continue when your comrade is hurt? Maybe it’s something we’ll study later in school.”
She sighed, did Deku ever switch off?
“Oh Uraraka, why did you ask about Bakugou again?”
Eep! She should have been thinking about how to cover this instead of sinking within her mind. She knew Deku wouldn’t accept ‘no reason,’ no matter how much she could giggle afterward. And now she had a real reason to hide the song from Deku, instead of a weird tingling in not her belly that made no sense.
If she couldn’t fool Deku, then she wasn’t going to be sneaky enough to help Bakugou with his crush. Think quick, Uraraka.
“I’m, asking for a friend?” She regretted it the moment she said it. That opened too many questions for the overly analytical Deku. Granted, she wasn’t sure what could be better.
“Someone likes Kaachan?” Deku’s face relaxed into a quiet smile. Not blazing with his own passion like earlier, but there was something more charming about this more subdued one. “That’s wonderful.” And he said nothing else.
Given Deku’s tendency to ramble, it was strangely intimate, but she didn’t want intimate moments with Deku to involve Bakugou. Even if she just promised herself to be better friends with him.
Still.
Stillness.
In the hidden quiet a dusting of snow flakes began to drop from the sky, highlighted by the headlights, looking like twinkling little fireflies. She took in a deep breath of that smoky crisp air, trying to enjoy the moment for just a bit longer.
“It’s a lovely night, isn’t it, Deku?”
Somehow without her realizing it Deku had scooted to the UA gate. “Come on, Uraraka, let’s get in before the snow gets worse.”
She followed, but couldn’t help be think…
What a waste of a lovely night.