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After Kirishima’s words that night, he never got to hear Bakugou’s response. They were interrupted by actors coming in for their quick changes between scenes. Then they were whirled back to finish their tasks and clean up before being separated by different tasks. It couldn’t be helped since it was always busy at the end of tech week.
Kirishima only had to wait until opening night for Bakugou to finally ask him out.
The first show on Friday evening was over. People said hello to the people who had come briefly before it was all hands on deck to get everything both reset and cleaned up. After the cleanup was completed, which never took too long, everyone rushed with changing and grabbing their things so they could meet their family and friends for their own celebration after such a successful first night.
As the main booth techie, he was tasked with helping Ms. Nemuri shut down the house completely before being dismissed. Once finished, a little later than most of the kids, though there were still a few stragglers taking their time, he headed out through the cafeteria. Mina and Kaminari were supposed to be waiting to take him home in Mina’s mom’s borrowed car. On the way to the exit, he spotted Bakugou, leaning against one of the cafeteria’s columns near the doors, twirling his keys this way and that in one hand, his other hidden from view.
“Bakugou?” He called out, a happy skip in his step as he quickened his walk to get to the shop boy. The blonde’s eyes had been on him since he grabbed his attention, keys firmly gripped in his hand now. When had they last had a proper conversation with all the craziness that had evolved at the end of their tech week? The last being when Kirishima had asked if Bakugou liked him. That should mean there would be tension, but Kirishima greeted him as normal. “Were you waiting for me?”
“Che.” Was the answer he received. Bakugou stared at Kirishima with a hard look. Kirishima knew by now it was the face Bakugou made when assessing what to say or do. He kicked off the column and stood, his other hand still hidden behind him. Kirishima tilted his head and patiently waited as the silence dragged on.
“Go out with me, Kirishima.” Bakugou finally said, pulling out from behind him a single, slightly squashed, origami rose. “On a date.” His pinched face betrayed his nerves, and Kirishima found it adorable.
Kirishima took the offered rose, smiling down at it before his smile grew to beam even brighter up at Bakugou. “You can be really cute, y’know?” A chuckle as that tinge of pink dusted near Bakugou’s nose again as the blonde scowled. Kirishima twirled the stem carefully in his finger. “Thank you for the rose.” It was rather sweet that the other had gotten him something. He also thought it added extra brownie points in Bakugou’s favor that it was something he could keep forever, if he really wanted to.
“I’d love to go on a date with you, Bakugou.” Finally, he answered the blonde. He watched the tension leave as the blonde didn’t hold back a sigh and the slight slump of his shoulders in relief. “Did you have something specific in mind? Mina and Kami are waiting for me tonight. We’ve planned to grab fast food together before they take me home.” Bakugou nodded his head, face becoming the more neutral grouch face that he understood as his resting face.
“I figured tonight would be too short notice.” Bakugou spoke a little gruffly, but Kirishima was an expert now on deciphering what he meant. It meant that Bakugou had been considerate and already knew that Kirishima likely had plans tonight. So he was asking in advance, that way he could make plans. “Sunday, after the matinee… can I have you then?” If Sero was there, he was sure there’d be snickering with the odd way Bakugou asked. Kirishima couldn’t hold back a giggle himself, but he did remember to nod his head in answer.
“Sunday sounds good.”
“Good.” Bakugou spoke shortly. “I’ll walk you out.” He jerked his head towards the doors. “It’s dark out already.” True enough, it was already pitch-black outside with the parking lot lights flickering. Kirishima let Bakugou walk him out of their school and to his friends that sat waiting on the hood of a Volkswagen.
“Ah!” Mina caught sight of him first. “I knew there was a reason you were taking so long.” Mina teased a little as she glanced between the blonde and redhead, obviously nosey. Her face was caked in makeup from the show still, but instead of the elaborate costumes she had been wearing during the musical she was wearing a romper now. Kaminari, less noticeable in the dark due to the all-black clothes he had to wear as a techie, didn’t look as pleased to see the blonde tagging along beside his friend.
“Bakugou was just walking me out,” Kirishima turned to Bakugou with a smile. “thanks.”
“See you Sunday.” Bakugou walked off further down the lot where Kirishima could make out a lone truck. As soon as Kirishima got into the car, on the front seat bench between Mina and Kaminari, he was pelted with questions.
“What did he want?” Kaminari asked, his voice already showing his disdain. It was obvious that he didn’t like Bakugou; but, Kirishima knew it was because his friend didn’t understand Bakugou and was prey to rumors.
“He asked me out on a date.” Kirishima said casually as he looked down at the rose he kept twirling between his fingers. That smile was back on his face. “Rather sweetly too.”
“What!” The chorus of Mina’s happy and Kaminari’s horrified response was quite funny.
“After the show’s all done, he’s going to take me out on a date.” Kirishima turned his face to Mina who was beaming.
“Ooh! Look at you – my friend growing up so fast,” Mina put her arm around Kirishima’s shoulders, bringing his head down so her fist could rub down against the top of his head. “got yourself a boyfriend now!”
“B-Boyfriend!?” Kaminari choked on his spit. Kirishima laughed, finally wiggling himself out of Mina’s arms, hair a mess, as he turned to Kaminari.
“Kami, you really need to ease up. Bakugou isn’t as bad as you think.” Kirishima tried broaching the topic lightly.
“I heard he stabbed someone!” Kaminari argued angrily. “Only a bad person does that!”
“I’m sure there was a good reason.” Kirishima surprised even himself with the rather fast rebuttal. The redhead beginning to lose his usual disposition as a frown grew on his features. “Or it was an accident.” He added. He remembered his first encounter with Bakugou outside of the principal office when it had apparently happened. By now only one question of the many that still swirled in his mind was answered: Bakugou likely got the screwdriver from his shop class. “He may be a bad boy, but he isn’t actually a bad person.”
“That’s hard to believe, Kirishima.” Kaminari frowned at his friend. “You just can’t see it.”
“More like you can’t see how good he is.” Kirishima frowned just as meanly back at his friend.
The tension rose between them, sparks threatening to fly. It was looking like it might devolve into a fight, but Mina came to the rescue. “Alright boys, stop it.” Mina clapped her hands, starting up the bug. “Kami, let’s believe in Kirishima.” Mina’s voice was firm as she reached out to touch Kaminari’s shoulder. “He’s not stupid. Kirishima can handle it if something does happen. And even if something does happen, you know we got his back. We’re a hellfire duo.”
Finally, Kaminari’s shoulders deflated, and his face began to turn from anger to worry. “I’m just worried bout you Kirishima.”
“Come here.” Kirishima slung his arm around Kaminari to give him a one-arm hug. “You’re my bro, Kami. I really appreciate you looking out for me.” He squeezed Kaminari. “I’m pretty sure I like Bakugou. I want to give this a try. I really don’t believe those rumors floating about him, or see at all in any way that he’d hurt me…” After a moment of consideration, “Other than maybe breaking my heart if we really do start dating.”
“If he breaks your heart, we’ll hurt him.” Mina said, shoving the two of them. “Right, Kami?” Kaminari’s last tension finally dissipated as he nodded, his usual pepped up self back.
“Right! If he does, he won’t even know what hits him.” Kaminari raised his fist in mock warning. Kirishima laughed as he nodded his head.
“Thanks guys. Glad you have my back.” Worries put to rest, they finally headed out to pick up some food, singing loudly to the radio. After they ate the food in the parking lot, jamming more to the mix tape their other friend Jirou had created, Mina dropped Kirishima off at home first before she took Kaminari home since he lived closest to her.
At the end of the evening, finally alone with himself and his thoughts, Kirishima flopped backwards on his bed. He stared up at the flower he had hardly put down since receiving it. A smile spread across his lips as he couldn’t help but giddily whisper to himself, “I’ve got a date!”
