Chapter Text
The academy found out about the Ferrari placement approximately twelve minutes after Bakugou received the official acceptance packet, nobody was entirely sure how.
Most suspected Ashido.
Ashido insisted she was being unfairly profiled, Nobody believed her.
"FERRARI?" Kaminari nearly fell out of his chair "Actual Ferrari?"
"No," Bakugou replied flatly. "The other Ferrari."
"There isn't another Ferrari." "Then congratulations. You answered your own question."
Kirishima looked genuinely impressed "Dude, that's huge."
"It is." for once, Bakugou didn't argue. Which somehow made it feel even bigger.
Around the room, students were already asking questions.
What would the program be like? How long would it last? What would he be doing?
Would he get to drive anything? Would he meet actual Ferrari engineers?
The last question earned several threats of violence. Normal.
Very normal.
Across the room, Shouto listened quietly she didn't contribute much.
Mostly because she already knew the answers.
And because she was trying very hard not to look pleased, that second part was proving difficult.
----
The next few days passed strangely.
Every time summer came up, so did Ferrari. Every time Ferrari came up, Shouto somehow ended up involved.
Not intentionally. At least not officially.
"The simulator program is good." Bakugou looked up from the form he was reviewing.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Good to know."
A day later
"The engineering department is probably the best part." "Better than the drivers?"
"Much better."
"Harsh."
"Accurate."
Another day:
"The testing facilities are ridiculous."
"You've said that before."
"Because they are."
"You sound like a brochure." Shouto narrowed her eyes.
Bakugou looked entirely too satisfied with himself.
By Friday, even the class had started noticing.
Again. Which was unfortunate.
"She's advertising." Ashido whispered dramatically.
"She's helping." Momo corrected.
"She's advertising."
"Helping."
"Advertising."
The argument continued, neither noticed.
Mostly because they were both focused on a laptop screen.
----
The real problem happened later.
Garage Three.
Of course, at this point, nobody was surprised anymore.
Shouto was reviewing the program outline while Bakugou leaned over her shoulder.
Close enough to see the screen.
Close enough that neither thought twice about it, the silence inside the garage was peaceful.
Comfortable. Normal.
At least until the door opened.
Kirishima stepped inside, stopped immediately.
Looked at them.
Looked at how close they were standing, looked at the laptop.
Looked back at them.
Then slowly turned around and walked back out.
Without saying a single word.
The garage door closed.
Silence.
Shouto blinked, "What was that?"
Bakugou didn't even look up "Kirishima."
"Helpful."
"I try."
An hour later they were still there. The program information had long since been reviewed.
Neither had bothered leaving, a familiar problem.
Shouto reached for her coffee.
Found nothing.
Frowned.
Then casually grabbed Bakugou's instead taking a sip and continued reading.
The garage remained silent.
Three full seconds passed "...That's mine."
Shouto looked down "Oh."
Another sip, Bakugou stared.
She stared back.
Neither moved.
"You done?"
"No."
"That's my coffee."
"Was."
"You're unbelievable."
The worst part? He didn't actually take it back.
The coffee remained exactly where it was. Which somehow felt more dangerous than arguing would have.
The sun was beginning to set when the email finally arrived.
Official and signed.
Waiting for a response.
The Ferrari acceptance packet sat open on the workbench between them.
Neither spoke immediately.
For some reason, the decision felt bigger now that it was real.
Not a possibility, not an invitation.
A choice.
Bakugou looked at the screen.
Read through everything one final time.
Then clicked submit.
The confirmation appeared instantly.
Simple. Permanent.
Done. "I sent it."
Shouto looked up the words hit her harder than expected.
Not because she had doubted him but because suddenly summer wasn't theoretical anymore.
It was happening.
For a second, something eased in her chest.
A tension she hadn't even realized she'd been carrying.
"Good." the answer came quietly.
Honest.
And before she could stop it, she smiled.
Small, brief.
Relieved.
Bakugou saw it immediately.
The smile disappeared a second later still too late.
He'd already noticed.
Something flickered across his expression.
Not surprise. Recognition.
Like he'd suddenly realized she'd been worried about the decision.
The thought settled between them, neither acknowledged it.
Neither planned to.
Probably for the best.
----
Eventually they left Garage Three, the evening air was warm.
Spring had fully settled over the academy.
The sky above the circuit glowed gold and orange as the sun dipped toward the horizon.
For a while they walked in comfortable silence.
No rush, no destination.
Just the familiar path back toward campus.
Halfway there, Shouto spoke "Ferrari's going to like you."
Bakugou glanced over "Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Simple.
Certain.
The kind of certainty that came from someone who knew Ferrari better than almost anyone.
For a moment neither looked away, then the moment passed.
As naturally as it had arrived.
The conversation moved on.
The walk continued.
Yet somehow, as the academy came into view ahead of them, both found themselves thinking about the same thing.
Summer had stopped being a countdown.
Now it was something waiting for them, and for the first time, neither was entirely sure whether that was exciting or terrifying.