Chapter Text
It really was a normal day of classes, a Friday, everyone in class 3A was finally ready for the weekend to start after such a long and exhausting week.
Of course, I can’t catch a break. I soon find myself needing to take care of chores before I have the chance to relax and unwind after a long day.
We usually have a schedule, an order, to who does their laundry on what days, but I have an important event coming up, one that I need my uniform for. I should have saved my backup uniform… but I got too lazy to wash my clothes on my designated day, Tuesday. So now my ever growing pile of laundry calls my name and begs to be cleaned.
I’m sure whoever has their laundry today will spare one washer and dryer for me out of the three total.
Though when I get to the Laundry room, I not only see that all of the washers and dryers are occupied, but Bakugou Katsuki stands by a set of them, basket in one arm, phone in the other.
“Who else is using these?” I ask him simply, tugging my laundry bag over my shoulder just as it was about to slip off.
“Look at the schedule, dumbass, today’s not your day.” Bakugou mutters gruffly, not even looking up from his phone.
I think about it for a second, remembering he shares the laundry room with Mina and Sero today.
“I-I know, I just need to wash my uniform super quick…” I huff a little.
“Doesn’t really sound like my problem, now, does it.” He glances up from his phone briefly to shoot me a piercing gaze.
“Yeah, it’s not, but could you please help me out here? It will not be long, I just need to wash this one thing…” I fidget with the strap to my bag, sending him a weary look.
He lets out a soft sigh and shoves his phone in his pocket, setting his basket down as well. “Fine, only if it’s just one thing, better not take too damn long, I got shit I need to do too.” He rolls his eyes, though I don’t sense any real malice from the action.
Bakugou and I have never been close, especially not when we were first years. He was a real piece of work back then, so I steered clear of him, avoiding any sort of conflict. But when we were partnered up, he was a nightmare, but he gradually changed as time went on. As our second year was rolling around and the war began, he was vastly different, especially when we all pitched in to save Midoriya, and Bakugou apologized to him. After that everything about him changed, outwardly speaking. He still was his usual grumpy self, but he didn’t explode at everyone and everything. He grew for the better, and we all noticed and we embraced this ever evolving Bakugou.
“Thank you, thank you!” I squealed.
“Yeah, yeah, but you gotta wait till this load is out of the wash.” He leans against the wall, a light dusting of pink in his ears. I pretend not to notice for his sake.
“That’s alright, I don’t mind waiting.” I shrug, sitting down on one of the benches. I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation with Bakugou for this long. Which is kind of sad, now that I think about it. Now that he’s changed, I want to be friends with the new him.
“It’s gonna be a while.” He looks down at the ground and smudges his slipper into the tiling, nervous habit?
“I really don’t mind.” I repeat with another shrug, a question burns on my tongue, one that aches to get out. “Do you… want to sit with me?” I finally ask.
He looks up at me quickly, the vaguest hint of surprise on his face. “Uh, sure.” He shrugs, playing it cool. He shoves his hands in his pockets and trudges over to me, plopping down at a respectable distance from me.
A strange silence fills the air, it’s not uncomfortable but not exactly… comfortable either. I’m not really sure how to engage in a conversation with him.
“Why do you need your clothes washed so badly?” Bakugou finally asks. Thank goodness he’s the one to start talking, which is… surprising.
I let out a breath of air I didn’t realize I was holding. “Well, I got invited to an expo tomorrow and was asked to give a short speech on what being a student at UA was like, y’know for middle schoolers. I kind of… forgot to keep up with my laundry on my day.” I wince at myself, realizing how gross it might have sounded that I’ve gone pretty much the whole week wearing the same two uniforms.
“Oh.” He starts, staring at the ground. “Well, I’m surprised they didn’t ask Dek- Izuku.” He corrects himself. Even after a year he still has troubles with Midoriya’s name, it’s kind of cute he’s still making an effort though.
“I guess they figured they needed someone who hasn’t been in the limelight as much.” I shrug and let out a breathy chuckle.
“I guess the nerd is pretty popular…” He trails off.
“Yeah, but so are you.” I shrug. “I mean, I definitely think as much as you have a reputation, I think when we all become heroes, you’ll be one of the most popular.” I nod my head towards him.
“Thanks I guess…” He rubs at the back of his neck briefly before whipping his head over to look at me. “Reputation?” He asks simply, a slight annoyed tone to his voice.
“N-no, I don’t mean it negatively,” I’m quick to try and salvage my wording. ”I just mean that a year ago you were a completely different person, and on national TV a couple of times even before that… I’m just saying the world already has a little bit of an impression of who you are- used to be!” I realize I’m ranting and just shut my mouth, looking at him with a slightly desperate expression. Save me!
To my surprise, Bakugou snorts, failing to hold a laugh in. “You’ve sure got a way with words.” He smirks at me, smugly.
I roll my eyes and look away, I can feel my face heating up a little bit. “Oh shush…” I pout.
“Thanks though. For thinking I’ll be popular.” He nudges me with his elbow,a strangely friendly gesture.
“Well, I believe it, you’ve got a flashy quirk, previous media coverage, good costume design, good looks don’t hurt either… I think you’ll make it big, especially since people have seen you in action, they’ve been waiting to see you make it pro.” I smile widely at him.
He huffs and turns away, his ears dusting pink again, spreading ever so slightly to his cheeks. “Careful, all this praise might get to my head.” He lets his shoulders rise and drop as he speaks, turning his head to face the washers and dryers.
“I think it already has.” I chuckle. Just then, a dinging sound goes off, signaling him that his clothes are done.
Bakugou pushes himself up off the bench and sidles over to the washer and dryer, switching his washed clothes to the dryer and the dry clothes to his basket. “You can start washing yours now.” He says.
I snap myself out of my trance from watching him and stand up, meeting him by the machines and dumping my dirty uniform into the wash and starting it. “Thanks again.” I smile, moving back to the bench.
“What about you?” He asks abruptly.
“What about me?” I raise an eyebrow, giving him a confused look.
“Do you think you’ll make it big when you become a pro?” He asks as he sits down next to me again, this time a little closer than before.
I purse my lips in thought for a moment before shrugging. “I don’t know. I don’t really think I’ll make it big per se, but I’m not sure if I’ll be a nobody either. I haven’t really gotten a chance to make a name for myself yet.”
“I think you’ve got what it takes. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.” He states like it’s a fact.
That slight comment has me reeling. Did Bakugou just compliment me?
I let out a nervous, slightly embarrassed chuckle. “Well, thanks Bakugou, that’s actually really sweet.” I smile at him.
“What? Didn’t think I had it in me to be sweet?” He smirks devilishly. Has he always been this handsome?
“Honestly? I wasn’t sure.” I watch my clothes spin round and around in the sudsy water of the washing machine. “We’ve all grown up, I guess.”
“Yeah.” He agrees, looking at the washer as well.
“I never thought I’d be able to talk with you like this, to be honest.” I turn back to him and smile, my face warming just a bit as I admit this.
“Yeah, I guess I wasn’t as approachable then as I am now.” Bakugou keeps staring at the washer, lost in thought, before deciding it was time for a change of subject. “Do you have your speech ready, then?” He asks.
I shy away from the question, letting my head droop slightly. “No, not really…” I admit.
“So you do your laundry at the last second and speech as well? C’mon, how can you be that ill prepared?” He questions with a bark of a laugh.
I hide my face in my hands, avoiding his gaze. “I lost the motivation… and things have been so busy this week with graduation coming up and all.” I shake my head.
“Or you could cut the excuses and just say you're lazy.” He chuckles.
“Okay… I'll admit it, I have gotten lazy. But having no motivation wasn’t an excuse! I don’t know what to write so I’m lost!” I exclaim.
Who knew that a conversation with Bakugou of all people would flow this easily, I think I like it.
“Well, if you need help with it…” He trails off, leaving an open ended suggestion.
“You’d help?” I perk up with a newfound eagerness.
“I mean, if you’re struggling.” He says with a nonchalant nod, well, as nonchalant as he’s trying to portray.
“O-okay, well, since you’re so kindly offering.” I chuckle.
“Okay, dumbass, don’t get too excited.” Bakugou smiles and shakes his head. “I guess… meet me in my dorm later. I’ll text you when. Since, y’know… laundry.”
I nod, finding his behavior strange but welcoming it with open arms. If he’s offering to help me write this speech, even after letting me use a washing machine on his laundry day, then there’s no way I’d turn him and his unexpected kindness down.