Chapter Text
UA University isn't for the weak and mistakes were not forgiven.
It was a place built on pressure; talent just wasn't enough. Your ambition was being measured in sleepless nights and high grades. Only the best survived.
Bakugou Katsuki knew exactly that this place was perfect from the start, since he's such a competitive person, but he didn't count that this eternal rival since high school also had applied for the same university, and who was he? Midoriya Izuku.
They are currently starting the 3rd semester, while Bakugou is in Mechanical Engineering, Izuku is studying Computer Engineering, and both realize that they share some classes together. Even though they might ignore each other face to face they can't help noticing the names of each other in their course schedule.
"What?... I’m sharing my first class with... him?!" - Izuku said almost surprised.
The past two semesters both have been invisible to each other. They don't even look at each other, at least not for too long.
The first thing Izuku did when he woke up a day before the classes began from vacations, was to check his course schedule, and it kind of surprised him.
Now his rival Bakugou Katsuki shared more classes with him, more than planned.
He wasn't going to cry about it, right?
"Iida, course schedule is out!"
"Midoriya, you don't have to scream..."
"Huh? One class... another one... and another one?!" Izuku was too stunned to speak clearly.
"Is this some kind of joke...?"
"What happened?" Iida said
"I share a lot of classes with Bakugou."
"Isn’t he... your best friend?" Iida said sarcastically.
"Was my best friend" Midoriya's face showed discomfort
"Was??"
“It’s complicated.”
“Okay…” Iida tries to spot Izuku’s face, trying to seek for an answer but not getting it.
Iida doesn't get it, but neither does Midoriya.
He isn't sure how or why did they stopped being friends. The ephemeral glances they gave in the corridors, that suffocating tension between them, the feeling of being close but not really.
Izuku was tired, and always wondered if they could get closer again, like when they were kids. Was that even possible?
No, it wasn't, because Katsuki isn’t that kid anymore.
"Heh... You have to be fucking kidding me." Katsuki said angrily.
"Bro, shut up, is way too early for you to be angry..." Kirishima let out a heavy sigh.
"That bastard! The one I told you about"
"Oh, the cute one with green hair? What about him?"
Cute? Deku?
"Bro, you still with me? Hello?" Kirishima leaned, attempting to read Katsuki’s expressions
"Mind your business." He avoided the redhead's gaze.
"Damn, you are in a mood."
"Do you ever shut up shitty hair?!" Katsuki yelled, but for some reason he was visibly embarrassed.
Bakugou couldn't reconcile the fact that he was now going to be closer to Izuku, way too close. His stupid green hair and those big green eyes are going to be in the same classroom as him.
...
The first day of classes began with crowded corridors and low murmurs, students already gathering into familiar groups. Tension lingered in the air, thick and almost tangible.
Yet Izuku and Katsuki were focused on when they would inevitably see each other.
Izuku arrived at his first class, and he inevitably noticed Katsuki sitting in the back of the classroom but decided to ignore him and sat in the front row, maybe this way he'll concentrate more and can manage to ignore Katsuki.
Even though the class had already started, Midoriya could feel a sharp gaze from behind, the kind of look that burned.
What is wrong with him? I am not even looking at him, but I can tell he's looking at me...
"As I was saying, in my class you'll be working in pairs, so you'd better look for someone at the end of the session"
"What?" Izuku mumbled. "Pairs?"
That nerd, I can't stand him, neither his stupid green eyes and his messy hair, or his freckles…
Katsuki's thoughts were relentless. He didn't understand why that boy with emerald eyes was stuck in his mind.
The class dragged on. Izuku felt uncomfortable the entire time, and now his biggest concern was finding a parter for the next class. A quick glance around the room confirmed it, everyone seemed to already have a partner.
Everyone, except him.
And Katsuki.
Izuku knew what he had to do.
What are the chances? Maybe this time... maybe we can get along again? - The thought made his stomach twist.
He approached him anyway, even though his mind was begging him to run the opposite way.
"Umm... Bakugou?" Saying his name out loud felt different. Too exposed.
"What do you want, Deku?” His tone carried surprise and a hint of annoyance. He clearly hadn't expected Izuku to approach him.
"Everyone already has a partner," Izuku said quickly, "and I was wondering if you wanted to be mine?"
He did not want this. Not really. But there was no other option.
Katsuki stared at him, eyes locked onto Izuku's, not sure what to answer, the silence between them seemed eternal and it made his chest tighten.
This was a mistake I shouldn't have said anything, this is embarrassing. - Izuku wanted to disappear.
Well, this is interesting… Katsuki thought.
Guess we are the last ones left.
Saying yes should have been easy. Too bad, his pride spoke for him.
"Tch." Katsuki clicked his tongue and looked away, obviously avoiding Izuku's face "I guess there’s no choice.”
Izuku didn't know how to react, did Katsuki actually accepted? I mean, that counts as an acceptance, right?
Midoriya blinked. "...Right. I-I guess I'll text you later?"
Silence.
That was his answer.
Bakugou grabbed his things quickly and walked away, without saying a single word. Leaving Izuku standing there, unsure.
Had he made a terrible mistake?