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People say that when you’re in love, your entire world stops. Your heart beat quickens… And you cannot breathe.
That line was something you saw online once, in an edit of a movie that made you cry.
In those moments of reflection, you found yourself pondering the depth of that sentiment. Is love truly as extraordinary as it sounds? What does it mean to fall in love? Can one genuinely hand over their heart to another, surrendering completely in a way that invites someone to explore the most intimate corners of their soul?
How is it possible to gaze into someone's eyes and feel an undeniable certainty that they are the one meant for you?
As your first year at U.A. unfolds, you come to an illuminating realization: love manifests in countless forms, each as profound as the last.
It can strike with the force of a speeding train, especially in the way you effortlessly bond with your classmates. There’s a warmth in platonic love that envelops you, a safe haven where you can share your innermost fears and dreams without hesitation. You allow them to peer into the depths of your soul, confident in the knowledge that the friends you've chosen will listen and not once judge you for who you are.
You open the door to your heart, inviting them into your bubble, and you find yourself surprisingly unguarded. You willingly stay up late to gossip and learn skin care techniques, and you willingly stay on campus after hours to train with them.
In their presence, you feel the electric charge of possibility; the belief that, together, you can scale the tallest mountains and conquer your most ambitious dreams. Each evening, you return to the warmth of your shared space, wrapped in their company and savoring the smiles they offer.
But love can also be so intense, like the man before you.
Katsuki Bakugo.
At first glance, you felt a palpable distance from him. Katsuki Bakugo radiates an imposing presence that compels those around him to shrink away, as if he harnesses an innate power that foretells his destined greatness. Despite the fear he instills and the frustration his explosive temperament often provokes, one cannot overlook the sheer intensity of his determination.
His determination burns fiercely, an unquenchable flame that refuses to be snuffed out, driving him relentlessly forward. Each spark of his resolve illuminates the depths of his ambition, revealing a spirit that won't waver, no matter the hurdles in his path.
He works harder than anyone else, a truth that becomes starkly clear the more you take your time to observe him. He spends his days sticking to his strict schedule, waking up before dawn to begin his training while everyone else still sleeps soundly in their rooms. You only found out how early he left for training when you saw him downstairs with a gym bag as you went to grab water from the dorm kitchen.
With an unwavering commitment, he is his own harshest critic, demanding excellence from himself with a pressure no one even asks of him. Bakugo’s singular focus on becoming the number one hero is evident, and he speaks with an authority born from hard work and genuine achievement, never resorting to hollow boasts or empty bravado.
There’s an undeniable edge to his confidence, an understanding that he has the skills and dedication to back it up. And slowly, you feel your heart burn in the same intensity he has for his quirk.
Because he is not just some other student working to be a hero, he is the one who faced capture at the hands of villains, a dark cloud hanging over him as they tried to break his spirit. He fought back with everything he had, his unwavering resolve shining bright against the odds.
The longer you observed him, the better you saw just how amazing he is.
When his friend group simultaneously had their stomachs rumble in hunger, you watched from the other side of the dorm how he quietly got up, and moments later, he returned, cradling a steaming tray of freshly cooked food in his hands. The aromatic scents wafted through the air, instantly lifting spirits and drawing everyone’s attention.
There was a time when you leaned against the wall, and you couldn’t help but overhear a heartfelt conversation. When Kirishima expressed his own insecurities, fearing he wasn’t as strong as the others, you felt a pang of sympathy for him. You were struck by Bakugo’s response, he may have delivered his words with his usual gruffness, but there was an undeniable warmth behind his tough exterior. He assured Kirishima, his voice firm yet it held no lies.
You also remembered the time that he helped your classmate, Koda, find his rabbit. How he treated the little animal with care. This was just one of countless instances where he extended his help to others. Despite his often aggressive and fiery personality, these moments revealed a compassionate side, proving that he genuinely cared for those around him, even when he wanted to deny it.
Then, as you sat in the common room, a wave of tension and stress washed over you, tightening your chest. The dim light from the overhead lamp cast a warm glow over the scattered papers and textbooks. Tears threaten to leave your eyes when suddenly, you watch as a hand slides a plate of your favourite food, and you suspect you already know who it is.
You looked up at his crimson eyes staring down at you, and you felt like the world had stopped. Your heartbeat quickened, each thud echoing like a drum in your ears, and a tightness gripped your chest, making it difficult to draw even a breath.
That day, you learned that love is as intense as the feeling burning in your skin. When he mumbled to you to scoot over, as he guided you through the topics, you realized how effortlessly passion could intertwine with the simplest of moments.
Love, as you feel right now, can be compared to when light hits a disco ball, and the surrounding walls are littered with magical glittery specks of color.
With the shiny wooden floors of the common room, excitement bubbles in the air. Everyone celebrated at Todoroki and Bakugo getting their hero license, and tonight marks the day that brings you all closer to achieving your dreams.
You laugh as Bakugo has crumbs of cake on his lips and a bit of frosting on his cheek.
With a gentle tap on his arm, you notice his intense gaze shifting to you, his attention locking in an instant. A rush of warmth floods your chest as a mix of joy and affection washes over you. You slowly extend your finger, tracing the path to his cheek, wiping away the frosting with a delicate touch.
The surprise etched on his face is precious, a brief moment where the usually brash and fiery Bakugo looks utterly disarmed. His cheeks flush a lovely shade of pink, contrasting with his typically serious demeanor, and you can't help but feel a flutter of happiness at this unexpected vulnerability.
It was not an invitation, but as Jirou played some 50 cents song by the dorm’s speakers, you wished you had kissed him that day.
You wished you could ignore any sense of rationality, no matter how inconvenient that action would be. It would’ve been the best mistake to tiptoe and bring your lips against his own. Because love does not warn you before scattering itself across every part of you.
Love is like fireworks.
It’s dazzling enough to shake you. Powerful enough to leave you breathless, instead, you stand in awe as you watch its beauty. You know it's dangerous, but you cannot help but step closer and feel the burn on your skin.
The tension between you and Bakugo is obvious to everyone around you, even to those who do not have all five senses.
Staying friends is safe. But it doesn’t mean you should. Each day, each lingering touch, you wished you were brave enough to step closer. You wished you had crossed that thin, blurry line and poured your heart out.
You once nurtured innocent dreams of a moment when you could finally confess your feelings to Bakugo. You longed to shout to the world that Katsuki Bakugo, the fierce and fiery boy known for his explosive power, had captured your heart completely.
Never did you expect to find yourself beside him on the battlefield. Your body screams for you to take a break, but it was your heart that sank as you watched him, unwavering and fierce, charge toward Shigaraki. Time seemed to slow as he extended his palm, the air crackling with anticipation, and unleashed a breathtaking display of color and force, each explosion a dazzling testament to his power and passion. It was both beautiful and terrifying.
The scream that tore your throat was not one of confession, but the absolute fear that made you feel like you wished to be in his place instead.
Your entire world stops.
Your heartbeat quickens, and you feel like you cannot breathe.
His body landed on the ground with a terrifying sound. One that will haunt your dreams for years to come.
You shakily wrap your arms around him. You tremble, trying to ground yourself as your fingers trace his face you used to dream of holding. His body, once warming you up in the coldest of nights, is now turning cold underneath the rain. The downpour is merciless, soaking through the fabric of your hero suits, and it joins your tears down to the ground.
You have so much left to say. So much left to do. There was supposed to be more time. The confession you practiced in your dorm room with the girls should have been delivered in summer, his favorite time of the year.
His heart, the one that he has wordlessly surrendered in a way that invites you to explore the most intimate corners of himself, now bleeds for the world to see.
Love hits you like a speeding train. One second you are breathing, the next you are shattered. It destroys you, making you bargain with any being willing to listen. You press your forehead against his, begging him to stay.
Love is as intense as the battlefield surrounding you; there are battle cries coming from each direction, yet the only thing that matters is Katsuki Bakugo in your arms. His eyes, once so intense and full of soul, the ones you gazed at and felt an undeniable certainty that he was the one meant for you, now start to dim. The only thing left for you to remember the original, beautiful shade of crimson is his blood pooling on your bare palms
Love is like a discoball. It made you believe in something endless. Made you remember each memory spinning in your mind. His soft smile was reserved for you, his touch, the future he was supposed to have.
All those dreams are reduced to reflections, as the discoball stills and his heart does too.
Love is also like fireworks. Fireworks, despite their beauty, are gone as quickly as they arrive.
10 years have passed. And your heart is buried in the grave where Katsuki Bakugo rests.
You drown in regret. You reached for the top hero spot, despite the odds against you. But Katsuki's memory endures, a fiery flame that refuses to be extinguished. The world will forever remember his brilliance, his tenacity, and his spirit, and you will ensure that legacy endures.
Every day, you find yourself at his grave, the quiet whispers of the wind carrying your thoughts. You lean close to the headstone, your heart aching as you murmur that you should have kissed him, should have let the moment linger a little longer. That you should have ruined the friendship when you had the chance.