Chapter Text
Ochako Uraraka stood chatting at Toru Hagakure’s desk, however they were not talking about anything really. Instead Uraraka had arrived early to class, earlier than Izuku Midoriya, hoping that since he had to pass Hagakure’s desk on the way to his own, he might stop and talk to her.
Uraraka and Hagukure had planned it out perfectly. Midoriya always arrived early, walking in with Tenya Ida. However since Uraraka and him sat on opposite sides of the room they never got a chance to talk before class, during class or really after class. During the day Uraraka might get a chance to talk to her crush during practical training or lunch.
Even when they did talk, their conversations were often brief or he talked so much that she wouldn’t get a chance to say anything, not that she had anything to say. Midoriya just seemed to be involved in his own world, he seemed to put more pressure on himself than anyone else in the class; constantly training, studying or eating.
Just then Midoriya walked into the class with Ida, exactly the time Uraraka had predicted. Uraraka pretended to finish her fake conversation with Hagakure and turned and smiled at Midoriya as he started to walk past.
“S'cuse me” He muttered as he hurriedly walked past her, ignoring her gesture. He sat down and immediately pulled out his notes from yesterday and began studying them to prepare for today’s class.
Everyone in class 1-A, including them, knew that Ochako Uraraka and Izuku Midoriya liked each other. She admired his determined spirit and his awkward personality was endearing to her but Uraraka was growing bored of the dynamic.
Not wanting to draw attention to her embarrassment at being completely ignored by the guy she liked, Uraraka decided to stay put for the remaining minutes before class started. She pulled out the new edition of her new favorite Shoujo manga series and started reading.
What Uraraka really wanted was to be romanced by a guy like how it happens in manga. She grabbed the corner of the page absorbing all the overtly flowery and dramatic imagery before continuing to the next page, savoring the build up before the climax of the story.
Uraraka knew it wasn’t fair to hold Midoriya to the same standards as the love interests in fictional stories but she couldn’t help it. As cheesy as it sounded Uraraka wanted to receive a love letter or walk home under the same umbrella with someone she had a crush on. Uraraka sat there dreaming of being accidentally kissed or defended from bullies.
Not only Midoriya but it seemed that no guy in her class seemed like a likely candidate to be her love interest. Midoriya and Ida were too nerdy, Shoji and Todoroki were too quiet, Kaminari and Mineta were too creepy, Kirishima was so obviously in love with Bakugou, and Bakugou…
“Hey Pink Cheeks? How’d you get that?”
Uraraka was pulled out of her fantasy. It was Katsuki Bakugou who looked as though he was ready to challenge her to a fight.
“This?” Uraraka asked, gesturing to her book. She was hesitant to answer the question. Why was Bakugou even asking? He had a history of a short temper and to start fights off the cuff but this behavior was strange even for Bakugou.
“What else!?” He snapped back at her. He was up close, almost in her face, squinting his eyes while looking down at her sitting. She started to sweat slightly, suddenly afraid that Bakugou had found a new target to bully besides Midoriya. Hagakure said nothing, removing herself from this confrontation with the assistance of her quirk.
“Well I- have a subscription I ge--” She started not knowing the answer he was looking for.
“Let me borrow it.” He commanded plainly.
“wha-” Uraraka wasn’t sure if had heard correctly. What would Katsuki Bakugou want with her manga?
“I SAID GIVE IT ROUND FACE!” He demanded.
She moved the book slightly towards him to offer it to him, closing her eyes and lowering her gaze so as to not accidentally offend him.
He snatched the book out of her hand and shoved it quickly into his bag. Uraraka opened her eyes to see him walking hunched-back over to his chair. She realised that she had given into his intimidation and needed to force herself to muster some courage. If she was going to be a Pro-Hero one day she couldn’t let high school bullies take her stuff.
"Hey wait a minute why do you even need that-?” She demanded to know.
“DON’T ASK QUESTIONS!” He barked at her as he took his seat.
The truth was that Katsuki Bakugou also liked that same series as her. But bought each new edition exclusively in person and this time they sold out early of the new edition. Bakugou’s reading habits were a closely guarded secret that he felt not many people in his life could know about.
Uraraka looked around the room to see if anyone else had witnessed what just happened. Not too many people had arrived this early and the people who were here seemed to be used to Bakugou’s behavior and knew not to question it.
Uraraka hopped off Hagakure’s desk and began making her way to her own seat. She couldn’t be bothered by the fact that her book was stolen or that she had just been yelled at in the middle of class. Instead she was excited about this new development.
Could it be possible that Bakugou has a soft side?
She looked across the room at the boy who seemed to be furiously scribbling something on the cover of his notebook.
Could that really be possible?
Everything she knew about Bakugou was second information from Midoriya that was limited mostly to instances of bullying. Uraraka realized she didn't really know anything about Bakugou.
Uraraka normally wouldn’t go for Bakugou’s type, but just maybe he was a romantic at heart just like her, once you get to know him.
She couldn’t help but fantasize about how Bakugou would maybe act in private, someone sensitive, affectionate or princely. She hadn’t realized that the lesson had already started and she hadn’t begun to take notes. She turned back to look at him again but instead noticed Midoriya who, unlike her, was actually taking notes.
I can’t think about Bakugou like this!
Uraraka felt a sense of dread wash over her. She thought about how much going for Midoriya’s bullying would completely betray his trust. He was brutish and emotionally and physically abusive, that wasn’t something she could just get over. Even a relationship with him no longer seemed likely, she couldn’t betray him as a friend either. Could she?
Uraraka suddenly noticed the erratic movements of Midoriya’s pencil on his paper. She realized that he wasn’t taking notes either, he was drawing pros in his personal notebook.
He really is in his own little world.