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Izuku Midoriya fidgeted with his pen as he diligently scribbled down notes. Professor Aizawa’s voice droned on in the background, delivering a lecture on constitutional law (a topic that Izuku found both challenging and endlessly fascinating) that was as dry as a desert. Izuku’s notebook was already filled with neat, organized bullet points, each one meticulously linked to previous lectures. His mumbling began softly, gradually gaining volume as he connected the dots between this lecture and the previous one.
“This clause seems to tie back to the principle of habeas corpus from last week's discussion…,” he muttered, eyes flicking between his notes and the professor, failing to notice the glares of the student in front of him.
Katsuki Bakugo was not in a good mood.
He was already irritated by the endless ramblings of his overly chatty roommate, Eijiro Kirishima, and now this green-haired nerd behind him wouldn’t shut up.
Bakugo’s patience snapped.
He turned abruptly and slammed his fist on Izuku’s desk, the loud banging echoing through the silent lecture hall. Izuku looked up to see a scowling blonde boy glaring down at him, one fist still pressed against the surface of his desk.
“Will you shut the fuck up?” Bakugo growled, his red eyes blazing with and anger and disdain. “Some of us are trying to actually listen to the lecture here!” The boy’s voice was rough, like gravel being ground into dust, and carried the weight of absolute authority.
Izuku blinked, taken aback “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t realize I was-”
“I don’t care! If I hear one more peep out of you, I’ll make sure you regret it,” Bakugo hissed.
Izuku’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He nodded quickly, swallowing the apology he’d been about to offer, trying to shrink into his seat. Professor Aizawa, who had briefly paused his lecture, resumed as if nothing had happened. Izuku has never seen this guy before, but he certainly made an impression.
The rest of the lecture passed in a blur of mortification and frantic note-taking, Izuku’s mumbling reduced to a whisper.
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“I just can’t believe how rude some people can be!” Izuku fumed, pacing back and forth in Kirishima’s dorm room.
As the lecture ended, Izuku gathered his things, still reeling from the confrontation, and headed straight to his friend Eijiro Kirishima’s room, needing to vent. Kirishima was in the middle of adjusting his weights when Izuku burst in, but now he was sitting on the bed, eyebrows furrowed in concern as he listened to Izuku’s rant.
“Seriously, Kirishima, all I was doing was taking notes. And this guy just slams his fist on my desk and yells at me for muttering! I mean, I know I do it, but I bet it wasn’t that distracting…” Izuku’s voice was a mix of indignation and confusion.
Kirishima leaned back, his usually cheerful expression replaced by a thoughtful frown. “Man, that’s not very manly at all. Who would be that mean to you, dude? What did he look like? Maybe I know him.”
Izuku stopped pacing and turned to face Kirishima. “Well, he had blonde, spiky hair and these really intense red eyes. He was wearing a black hoodie and looked like he was ready to explode.”
Before Kirishima could respond, his roommate walked in, slamming the door behind him. “Oi, shitty hair, did you eat my-”
Bakugo, who had stomped in, looking as though he had just emerged from a battlefield, immediatly eyed Izuku, his expression soured. “You again? Why the fuck are you here?”
Kirishima looked between the two, “Oh, this is Katsuki Bakugo, my roommate. He may seem like a delinquent, but he’s actually a pretty cool dude. Bakugo, this is Izuku Midoriya, a dear friend of mine!”
Izuku turned slowly to face Bakugo. “You! You’re the rude guy from class!”
Kirishima’s eyes widened, a lightbulb going off. “Wait, wait, hold on. Bakugo, you yelled ad Izuku? Dude, what the fuck?”
Bakugo rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and I’d do it again. He was being annoying as fuck.”
Izuku shot Kirishima a look that clearly said, “Are you seriously friends with this guy?” Then looked at Bakugo and the two exchanged nasty looks.
Kirishima, simply grinned. “Don’t mind Bakugo, he just seems rough around the edges, but as I told you, he’s not that bad.”
The green-haired boy, not convinced by Kirishima’s assurance, huffed and left the room, muttering under his breath and determined to avoid Bakugo as much as possible in the future.
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The next day, Izuku found himself running late for Professor Aizawa’s class.
This time, the fault lay with Shoto Todoroki, his aloof and perpetually disorganized roommate and his endless debate about the merits of various legal philosophies.
“Shoto, we’re going to be late!” Izuku called, interrupting his friend’s monologue while simultaneously gathering his notes.
Shoto appeared in the doorway, looking as calm as ever, a slight crease in his brow the only indication of any urgency. “Sorry, I thought we had more time.”
Izuku arrived at the lecture hall just as Professor Aizawa was starting the roll call. He scanned the room frantically for an empty seat, only to find that the only available one was next to Bakugo. Groaning inwardly, he made his way over, hoping Bakugo wouldn’t make a scene.
As he approached, Bakugo’s eyes met his, a devilish smirk spreading across his face. He nonchalantly placed his bag on the empty seat beside him.
“Sorry, nerd. This seat’s taken.”
“Come on, there’s nowhere else to sit,” Izuku protested.
“Not my problem,” Bakugo replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Izuku clenched his fists, swallowing his frustration as he moved to sit on the floor against the wall. He made a mental note to talk to Professor Aizawa about assigned seating.
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During the lunch break, Izuku stood in line at the vending machine with Shoto.
As they waited, Izuku eyed the last packet of his favorite cookies in the machine’s window and sighed. “I really hope they don’t run out before I get there.”
In front of him, Bakugo turned and saw the cookies Izuku was eyeing. With a wicked grin, he punched in the code for the cookies and grabbed the last packet, despite the fact that he had no interest in sweets.
“Better luck next time, nerd” Bakugo said with a smirk, walking away with the cookies.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, glancing at Shoto, who shrugged.
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The following day, Bakugo stormed into the library to pick up some books he needed for an upcoming exam. As he approached the counter, the librarian, an elderly woman with kind eyes, shook her head apologetically.
“I’m sorry, young man, but the books you’re looking for have already been checked out. However, you can sign this list to reserve them for when they’re returned.”
Bakugo frowned and grabbed the list, scanning it quickly. His eyes landed on a familiar name—Izuku Midoriya. His scowl deepened. Of course, it had to be that nerd. He scribbled his name on the list and left the library, already plotting how to get back at Izuku for this latest inconvenience.
Izuku continued to vent about Bakugo’s antics to Kirishima whenever he had the chance, usually when he was sure Bakugo wasn’t around. Kirishima listened patiently, occasionally offering words of encouragement or suggesting ways to avoid Bakugo.
Ever the optimist, he was convinced that, despite their rocky start, Izuku and Bakugo could become friends.
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One day, Kirishima texted Izuku in a panic. “Hey, can you come to my room? I really need your help with an emergency!”
Worried, Izuku rushed to Kirishima’s dorm, only to find him standing there with a sheepish grin.
“Hey, Izuku! Thanks for coming. I, uh, ordered some dumbbells, but I realized just now that I can’t go there personally since I have an important lecture I can’t miss, would you mind pick them up?”
Izuku sighed in relief. “That’s the emergency? Sure, I can-“
Bakugo barged in. “What’s about fucking dumbbells?”
Kirishima’s grin widened. “Perfect timing! You go help too, Bakugo, I bet they’re too heavy for Izuku to get them here on his own.”
Izuku and Bakugo exchanged glares but reluctantly agreed.
“Let’s get this over with,” Bakugo snapped.
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As they walked to the store, their bickering escalated.
Izuku and Bakugo loaded the dumbbells into a cart and began the trek back to the dorms, exchanging snarky remarks, each one more cutting than the last.
“This would be so much easier if you’s stop whining, fuckface,” Bakugo growled at one point.
“Maybe I wouldn’t whine if you weren’t such a jersk, Bakugo,” Izuku shot back.
Bakugo pulled out his phone, checking the time, “how much longer do I have to put up with you?” He muttered.
Izuku caught a glimpse of Bakugo’s lockscreen—a photo of a younger Bakugo standing beside Tsunagu Hakamada, a renowned lawyer whom Izuku greatly admired.
“Wait, is that Hakamada?” Izuku asked, forgetting their argument in his excitement.
Bakugo glanced at his phone and then at Izuku, his expression softening slightly. “Yeah, I met him when I was in high school. He gave a seminar, and I got to talk to him afterward.”
“I admire his work so much! He’s brilliant in court.”
Bakugo’s scowl softened slightly as he listened. “Yeah. Well, he’s pretty cool. Tough as nails, doesn’t take crap and gets the job done.
Izuku nodded vigorously. “Absolutely! And his book on defense strategies is a masterpiece! I’ve read it cover to cover at least twice. His insights on how to navigate the legal system are just…wow.”
“What abou you, nerd? You particularly like any other lawyer?”
Izuku beamed and pulled out his phone, showing Bakugo a selfie with Yagi Toshinori, the most famous and beloved lawyer in the country. “I got to meet Yagi Toshinori last year. He’s my biggest inspiration and the reason I decided to study law!”
Bakugo’s eyes widened, his irritation momentarily forgotten. “No way. Toshinori’s a fucking legend.”
“I wanto to help people the way he does.”
Bakugo was silent for a moment, then he spoke, his tone surprisingly earnest. “Yeah, well, it’s not a bad goal. Hakamada inspired me to aim high too. Seeing someone like him succed…make you believe you can do it too, you know?”
Izuku’s eyes softened. “I get that, it’s the same for me with Toshinori. It’s like…if he could do it, maybe I can too.”
As they continued to walk, their conversation shifted from bickering to a more animated discussion about their favorite cases and the lawyers they admired. Izuku couldn’t help but dive deeper into the subject.
“Did you know that Hakamada’s defense in that old case actually set a precedent for how mental health is considered in court?” Izuku said, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. “It’s one of the reason why mental health defenses are taken more seriously now.”
Bakugo nodded, clearly engaged. “Yeah, I read about that. He’s got a real knack for finding angles no one else sees. That case was a game-changer.”
Izuku smiled. “It’s amazing how they can always find a way to give people hope, even in the darkest situations. That’s what I want to do – give people hope.”
By the time they returned to Kirishima’s room with the dumbbells, they were chatting animatedly. Kirishima noticed and smiled to himself, proud of his matchmaking efforts.
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Izuku returned to his dorm, a spring in his step.
Shoto looked up from his desk, his usually calm demeanor replaced with a hint of concern. “Izuku, you were gone for a while. Is everything okay?”
Izuku beamed. “Everything’s great! I think I made a new friend today. Kacchan, I mean, Bakugo. We actually got along!”
Shoto blinked, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. “The same Bakugo who you said was incredibly rude to you? Didn’t you hate him, like, two minutes ago?”
Izuku nodded enthusiastically, “Yeah, it’s crazy, right? But we kind of bonded over Toshinori Yagi, you know? That famous lawyer! Apparently you were wrong when you said that I was probably the only one in the world obsessing over lawyers like they’re celebtiries! We’re studying laws, after all!”
Shoto nodded slowly, still processing the information. “I’m glad you’re making friends, Izuku.”
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The next day, Izuku found himself running late again, thanks to Shoto forgetting to set his alarm. He rushed into the lecture hall, expecting another awkward seating situation.
The only available seat was once again next to Bakugo. Izuku hesitated, glancing at him.
Without even looking up, Bakugo moved his bag to the floor, freeing the seat beside him and gestured for Izuku to sit down.
Izuku took the seat gratefully, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.
“Thanks, Kacchan.”
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That evening, Izuku knocked on Kirishima’s door, holding a stack of books.
“Hey, I saw from the library list that Bakugo needed these books so I thought I’d bring them over,” he explained.
Kirishima grinned. “Thanks, man. I’ll make sure he gets them.”
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The next lecture they shared, Bakugo not only saved a seat for Izuku without being asked, but as soon as he saw him, he handed him a small package of cookies.
Looking away, as if embarassed, Bakugo muttered, “Here, I got these for you. Since I took the last one last time,” Bakugo muttered, his usual bravado nowhere to be seen.
Izuku took the cookies with a smile, feeling a warmth in his chest that he couldn’t quite explain.
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Their interactions became more frequent and definetly less hostile.
As the days went by, Izuku and Bakugo began talking more and more, finding common ground in their shared interests and ambitions.
One day, during a break, they found themselves discussing a new superhero movie that had just been released.
“Man, I really want to see that movie,” Bakugo said, his eyes lighting up in a way that Izuku rarely saw.
“Me too! Maybe we could go see it together and talk about it afterward?” Izuku suggested, his heart pounding at the thought of spending more time with Bakugo.
Bakugo hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Sure, why not. It’s not like I have anything better to do.”
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Later, in his dorm room, Bakugo burst in, slamming the door behind him.
Kirishima looked up from his textbook, startled by the sudden entrance. Bakugo’s usual confident demeanor was replaced by an uncharacteristic look of panic.
“Kirishima, we have a big fucking problem!” Bakugo exclaimed, pacing back and forth like a caged animal.
Kirishima closed his book and leaned back, curious. “What’s up, man? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“It’s worse than a ghost! I think Izuku just asked me out on a date!” Bakugo ran a hand through his hair, clearly flustered.
Kirishima blinked in surprise. “Wait, what? Are you serious?”
Bakugo nodded vehemently, continuing to pace. “We were talking about that new superhero movie, and he suggested we go see it together. I said yes without thinking, and now I don’t know what to do!”
Kirishima tried to suppress a grin but failed miserably. “Dude, calm down. It’s probably just a friendly hangout. You know, like buddies going to watch a movie. No need to freak out.”
Bakugo stopped pacing and stared at Kirishima, wide-eyed. “But what if it isn’t? What if he thinks it’s a fucking date? I’ve never been on a date before, especially not with fucking Izuku, out of all people!”
Kirishima laughed, shaking his head. “Bakugo, relax. You’ve been friends with him for a while now. It’s just a movie. Trust me, it’s not a big deal.”
Bakugo huffed, crossing his arms. “Fine, but if he pulls any funny business, I’m blaming you.”
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Meanwhile, across the hall, Izuku was having a similar meltdown in his room.
He paced back and forth, clutching his phone like it might explode at any moment. Shoto looked up from his desk with a look of mild concern.
“Izuku, are you okay? You’re making me dizzy,” Shoto said, his voice calm but curious.
Izuku stopped pacing and turned to face his roommate, his face a mask of anxiety. “Shoto, I think I just asked Kacchan out on a date!”
Shoto raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. “Did you? What makes you think that?”
Izuku flopped onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. “We were talking about that new superhero movie, and I suggested we go see it together. He said yes, and now I’m freaking out! What if he thinks it’s a date?”
Shoto frowned, considering Izuku’s words carefully. “My brother, the oldest one, used to go to the movies with Keigo very often. It’s not a big deal. They just hung out and had fun.”
Izuku sat up, looking at Shoto with wide eyes. “But your brother and Keigo are an actual couple! They do couple things, like go on dates!”
Shoto’s expression didn’t change. “They became a couple after going to the movies. So maybe you’re fine.”
Izuku groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I don’t know what to do! What if Kacchan thinks I’m being weird? What if he doesn’t want to go?”
Shoto shrugged, ever the voice of calm logic. “Just go to the movie and see what happens. You like spending time with him, right?”
Izuku nodded slowly, lifting his head to look at his friend. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. But if this turns into a disaster, I’m blaming you.”
Shoto simply nodded, his expression as stoic as ever. “Alright, but I’m sure it will be fine, Izuku. Just be yourself.”
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The next day, Izuku and Bakugo met up at the cinema, both of them trying to hide their nervousness. Izuku arrived first, fidgeting with his phone as he waited outside the theater. When Bakugo finally showed up, he looked as though he had just run a marathon.
“Hey, Kacchan,” Izuku greeted him, trying to keep his voice steady. “Ready for the movie?”
“Yeah, whatever,” Bakugo grumbled, his eyes darting around as if looking for an escape route.
They bought their tickets and snacks, each of them sneaking glances at the other and wondering what was even going on. When they finally settled into their seats, the tension between them was almost palpable.
As the lights dimmed and the movie started, both of them tried to relax and enjoy the film. But every time their hands brushed in the popcorn tub, or their shoulders bumped, their hearts raced a little faster.
When the movie ended, they left the theater and decided to take a walk to a nearby cafe. The cool night air helped to ease some of their nervousness as they chatted about the movie and their favorite scenes.
They found a quiet spot under a tree and sat down, sipping on their drinks. Izuku took a deep breath and decided to break the ice.
“Kacchan, I really didn’t expect that romantic scene out of nowhere, it was almost funny, it was so out of the blue,” he said, trying to keep his tone light.
Bakugo smirked, his confidence slowly returning. “Yeah, it was a surprise. Kind of like tonight.”
Izuku looked at him, curiosity and hope flickering in his eyes. “What do you mean?”
Bakugo took a deep breath, his expression softening for a moment. “I mean, I didn’t think I’d enjoy tonight as much as I did. I thought it was going to be awkward and weird, but…it wasn’t.”
Izuku’s heart swelled at Bakugo’s unexpected honesty. “Yeah, I’m glad we did this. It was nice.”
There was a pause, a moment where words seemed unnecessary. They both stared up at the stars.
“So, Kacchan,” Izuku ventured, his voice gentle but filled with meaning. “What do you think about maybe doing this again sometime? No pressure or anything. Just…you know, hanging out.”
Bakugo looked at Izuku, his usual scowl replaced with a contemplative expression. “Yeah, I think I’d like that. But don’t get any weird ideas, nerd. It’s just hanging out.”
Izuku chuckled, the tension between them easing into something more comfortable, more hopeful. “Of course, just hanging out.”
They shared a smile, one that spoke of new beginnings and tentative steps forward.
The air between them felt lighter, filled with the promise of what could be. They stayed there for a while longer, talking about everything and nothing, the world around them fading into the background.
As they walked back to their dorms, the night air seemed to carry their words, intertwining them in a dance of possibility. Bakugo glanced at Izuku, a small, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.
“Hey, Deku,” he said, his tone softer than usual. “Thanks for tonight. It was…nice.”
Izuku beamed, his heart feeling lighter than it had in days. “Yeah, it really was. See you around, Kacchan.”