Chapter Text
“Dude, you’re totally staring at her again.”
A scowl fell to Katsuki Bakugo’s face as he turned his crimson irises from their initial target to the sharp-toothed redhead seated across from him. Kirishima didn’t bother to hide his mocking grin from his friend as he snickered at Bakugo’s expense. Despite the constant noise from the cafeteria’s usual chattering student body, the blonde male couldn’t help but worry that Kirishima's comment was too loud.
“Shut the hell up, hair for brains. I actually just caught her staring at me again.”
Bakugo mused with a smirk, crossing his arms and leaning on the table. A look of doubt was Kirishima’s response as he not-so-subtly turned in his seat to glance behind him. Sure enough, seated several tables away from his table he saw you sitting with who he assumed were your friends. Neither he nor Bakugo knew your name, just that you were a second year student at UA. It seemed that Bakugo had possibly told the truth about catching you staring, as you appeared to be embarrassed with your friends poking at you with teasing expressions. A firm grip on his blazer pulled the redhead from looking any further as Bakugo glared angrily at Kirishima.
“Don’t just turn without any attempt at being casual, you idiot!” The bomber snapped, releasing Kirishima’s uniform blazer with a huff as he sat back down. Unfazed by his temperamental friend’s attitude, Kirishima fixed his uniform to a decent state.
It was an interesting surprise when the blonde had first pointed out a random upperclassman staring at him during lunch period after the Sports Festival. Kirishima honestly expected Bakugo to simply shout something rude at you and that would be it. It was what Bakugo typically did with “extras” who annoyed him with their existence. To the redhead’s shock, the explosive blonde seemed curious and went on with his lunch. It’s now been about two weeks since then and to Kirishima’s utter amusement, Bakugo appeared to be interested in you too. “ Looks like Bakubro ain’t immune to a pretty girl. Makes him a little more human.” Kirishima thought to himself with a relaxed smile.
“Y’know it’s not very manly to just sit around like this. You don’t even know her name.” His words only made Bakugo narrow his scarlet eyes as he rested his chin on his fist.
“Yeah I know that.” Bakugo muttered as he let his eyes glance past his friend to look back at you. It seemed being caught by your crush had scared you away as you and your friends stood from the table and moved to leave the cafeteria. While he may not have known your name, he had given you a temporary one in the nickname “Bright Eyes”. Embarrassing as hell, and he would die before letting anyone know. His pride was too great to simply ask who you were. At the same time, he hated this cowardly game of looks between the two of you.
“Well, she’s been pretty consistent, so why don’t you just talk to her? It's not like you to hesitate.” A small dust of pink hit Bakugo’s cheeks as he cursed Kirishima for his unwanted support; still, he did make a good point. The redheaded student resisted the urge to push more, aware of his classmate’s pensive expression.
“Damn, I really am acting like a pussy, huh? I’ll talk to her after school, but this wasn’t because of you, shitty hair.”
“Whatever lets you sleep at night, but good luck man! I’m rooting for you.”
Perhaps it was due to his nerves, but the rest of the day seemed to drag on from that moment for Bakugo. As he sat amongst the others in class 1-A, the male went through multiple scenarios in his head of how he should walk up to you. While he had come to recognize Eijiro Kirishima as a friend , a sentiment he won’t say out loud, he wouldn’t dare confide in him in regards to his genuine insecurity.
Since the shit show that was the Sports Festival, so many damn extras have had the audacity to look at him in disgust or fucking pity . His calloused hands tightened into fists as he released a slow breath to calm himself. He didn’t care, he kept telling himself he didn’t care. Why should he care? He was stronger than any of those fucking weaklings.
A flash of twinkling bright eyes made his heart skip a beat as Bakugo blinked quickly, feeling his anger subside. You didn’t look at him like that. When he’d first caught you staring, it caught him off guard how pleasant it felt to be looked at with what seemed to be fascination. You were an attractive girl; from your hair to your uniform, you presented yourself in a very put together way. Bakugo had girlfriends in middle school, but since arriving to UA he found himself less popular and less interested in the concept of dating. In middle school it was a passing flex to have a girlfriend when he felt like it. Things had become complicated, he’d become complicated. Except when he’d catch your bright eyes twinkling from the artificial lights of the cafeteria. It made him feel a sense of relief that someone wasn’t glaring at him like a villain.
From his observations he had been able to deduce you were a second year in the hero department, though this is as far as his investigation had gone without directly inquiring about you. Unwilling to let anyone else but Kirishima know he was interested in you, lest they ruin his chance to properly make a move unhindered.
It seemed being lost in thought helped the remaining hours of class pass by faster as the bell rang to end the day. Ignoring the chatter of his classmates, Bakugo was quick to grab his bag and head out of 1-A. As he stepped past Kirishima, the blonde huffed as the spikey haired male gave him an assuring smile and thumbs up.
His reputation and unfriendly demeanor made it a simple matter to walk through the throngs of students flooding the halls who were eager to leave class. Moving to wait near the stairwell, it only took a few minutes for a familiar figure to bounce down the steps from the second year’s floor. The relief at seeing you already was short lived as you were sandwiched between two other girls. A groan of frustration left him at the sight. “ Didn’t those background characters have anywhere else to be?” he thought in annoyance.
Shoving his hands into his pockets, the male kept a short distance behind your group as he followed you towards the shoe lockers. Like a pot of water on a hot stovetop, Bakugo found his temper boiling. You chatted animatedly with your friends, playfully nudging the muscular tall girl with dog ears and a tail as she whispered something to you. The petite one also there, laughed behind her hand before she appeared to say her farewells and depart from your side. With one gone, Bakugo impatiently waited for the other to leave as well. Acting casually, he continued watching you both and moved to swap his shoes quickly.
The poor boy’s heart sank as you and the dog girl slipped on your shoes and left the entrance. The courage he’d given himself to approach you was on the grounds that you would be alone. Before he could try to come up with another plan of action, the dog girl’s ears twitched as her body language implied surprise. Stomping her foot, she groaned loudly and turned quickly, moving back towards the stairwell. Perhaps he’d built up good karma to be given the chance to see you give a carefree laugh and walk alone in this moment.
Hardening his resolve, Bakugo adjusted his posture to relax and walked through the entrance of UA. The groups of students thinned out outside, and it was easier to close the distance towards your form. With a deep breath and sweaty palms, Bakugo stepped up to you and spoke to get your attention.
“Hey.” Not very poetic or exciting, but luckily did the job as you stopped in your tracks and turned to him with a confused expression.
“Hey… you? Did you need something?” Your voice suited you, but the genuine tone and expression of confusion made him hesitate for a moment. The evening sun casting a warm glow over you and bringing a shine to your eyes gave Bakugo the boost he needed to his resolve to continue on.
“I’ve noticed you staring at me during lunch. Figured I’d make things easier for us by just asking you out directly.” While his words were bold, there was a stone of dread settling in his gut as he watched your face shift to one of bewilderment.
“Wah…staring at you? Oh, hm, that’s not quite right. I think there’s a mistake here. I don’t even know you.” Blinking several times to keep your eyes from widening in shock, you stumbled over your words as you tried to let him down nicely. Bakugo on the other hand, felt petrified to the spot as you kept talking.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m not comfortable going out with someone I don’t know. Take care!” With that you were quick to offer an apologetic smile and turn away to leave. Briskly walking away, you pulled out your cellphone to text your best friend what had just happened.
Stunned by an outcome he sincerely hadn’t predicted, Bakugo turned his gaze forward and allowed his body to walk on autopilot towards home. His gut bubbled with stress as he went over your speedy rejection; trying to figure out how he had read the situation so completely wrong. Even as he made it home and darted straight to his room, the solitude offered little solace to the embarrassment and shame he felt. Made worse yet, that he had still found you so painfully pretty as you turned from him.