Chapter 2: Fireworks

As the sun was setting Mei's entire street was flooded with red and orange light. In other circumstances, she would have sat on her front porch and soaked in all the colors of the early evening. On a different night, it would have soothed her, but it did nothing to calm her now.

She peered out from where she'd been lurking behind her front door. Bakugo was sitting on their front steps, using a rag to clean his face.

They had just finished the move and he had been a huge help, according to her mother and father. Mei had done her best to stay out of his way since their encounter in her room….I had a boy in my room… she thought, not for the first time that day….Stop it Mei. It wasn't a boy it was... him...

She felt steam rise from the mug in her hand and was brought back to reality. "Go!" her mother had urged her, pushing the hot cocoa towards her. "For him." She'd mouthed.

Mei took a deep breath and stepped onto the front porch. She had never felt so exposed. If Bakugo noticed her, he did not move.

She had no idea why he made her so nervous, but he did. As calmly as she could, she closed the distance between them and lowered herself onto the step next to him. Still, he did not look at her, but she felt his breathing change slightly.

"What's the sunset make you think of?" She asked, blurting out the first thing that popped into her head. She pushed the mug of cocoa towards him, sloshing a little on the porch between them.

Bakugo turned his head, surveying both her and the cocoa with glints of annoyance in his red eyes. After an eternity, he looked away from her and grabbed the extended mug.

"Explosions." He grunted, and took a long drink.

"Oh…" Mei said nervously.

"Well?" Bakugo snapped after he'd drained the cup.

"Well, what?" Mei stared at him blankly.

"Are you gonna tell me or not?"

"Tell you...what?" Mei stuttered.

"THE SUNSET!" Bakugo yelled. Then he relaxed, "I said explosions…"

Mei smiled and looked at the red landscape, "It makes me think of rubies and oranges."

Bakugo snorted, his breath making a hot cloud in front of him.

"What?" she asked him, insulted.

He shook his head, "Nothing."

Silence fell between them for several minutes. ...He's going to leave soon if I don't say anything! It's not a big deal Mei, just ask him to watch fireworks!...

"So…" Mei said, "Are you doing anything tonight?" Bakugo became very still and he flashed a glance at her from the corner of his eye.

Mei raced forward, "Because my father wanted me to give you these tickets! It was his idea...to...to thank you for helping us." She held up the tickets to him, "They're tickets to a firework show tonight. A few blocks from here I think."

He still wasn't looking at her, "Two tickets." He grumbled.

Mei felt her skin turn the color of blood and fought the urge to let herself fade away into nothing, "Well, yes." she said, "They thought we could go together, but I don't have to go with you, obviously. You could take whoever. You don't even know me. And we…"

Bakugo snatched the tickets out of her hand and stood up. He began walking towards their front gate and Mei was flooded with a mixture of embarrassment and rage….How dare he?...If he didn't want to go with me, all he had to say was…

"Be ready to go in an hour, airhead!" He barked over his shoulder as he slammed the gate behind him.

Mei stood, "Don't call me that!" It took her a moment to comprehend the rest of what he'd said. ...Be ready to go... "Wait! Where are you going?" she called.

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!" Bakugo yelled at her from his own front door.

Mei stared after him in confusion for a few minutes and then she went inside to do as he'd suggested

POV Change.

...Rubies and oranges...what a girl thing to say…

Bakugo used a cup to pour water over his head in the bath; as he did so, steam hissed and rose up from his skin. She'd asked him where he was going. To bathe, of course. Was she stupid? He wasn't going to go to a festival covered in sweat and stink. He wasn't an animal.

...Why are you going with her anywhere?...

If someone other than his own mind had asked him that, he would have punched them in the mouth. The only answer he had was one he didn't want to acknowledge.

He could pretend it was because she was new and he felt sorry for her; but pity was not something in his vocabulary. He could say that he felt obligated to go with her because the tickets had been a gift from her father; but, Bakugo had never felt obligated to anyone. And he wasn't afraid to hurt people's feelings. All of this pointed to one thing. He was going somewhere with her for the same reason, the only reason, that Katsuki Bakugo ever did anything.

...Because I want to…

The thought outraged him, and he wrapped his towel around his waist more violently than was necessary. Looking in the mirror he saw his hair beginning to dry and spike. He went to his dresser, refusing to let himself care about what he would put on. He settled on a grey sweater, a pair of jeans, and his favorite brown leather jacket.

He looked down at the tickets. He knew this festival; it happened near the end of February every year. There would be games with prizes to win, and food stalls there. It had always seemed like a good time...but...he'd never had anyone to go with. This would be his first time seeing the fireworks up close and he would do it with Mei Sayuri, the strange new girl next door.

...What does she eat?... he wondered. He didn't know what someone made of air would eat, but he shoved a fistful of yen into his pocket anyway. ...It's not a date, but that airhead probably won't remember money to buy her own food...

Grumpily, Bakugo looked at himself in the mirror. This month alone he'd put on at least five pounds of muscle. His chest was wider and his arms pulled more at the fabric of his sleeves. He was growing. He wasn't a skinny little middle schooler anymore.

None of the girls in his middle school class had laughed at him; not that anyone laughed at the talented and explosive Bakugo. But they had never been overly fond of him either. He'd never been asked to a dance, or been given a secret love note like some of his friends. And he'd certainly never been invited to a festival.

"You're freaking scary, man." his friend Ken had told him. "No girl wants to makeout with someone who yells all the time."

Bakugo scowled into the mirror. He was glad he scared them; that meant they were weak. He knew that if he ever did pick a girl to be his, not that he wanted a girl, she wouldn't be weak. She'd be like him: totally fearless.

...Where the hell is your head at?...he scolded himself.

Mei Sayuri was not his type and he didn't care about her in the slightest. He didn't care about girls right now at all. The only thing he cared about was being the new number one hero. Everything else didn't mean crap. Everything else was just a meaningless, pointless distraction.

He walked down the stairs and out onto his front porch.

...We'll go. Then I'll never have to deal with her again… he thought, as he began the short walk back to her house. He did not give himself a moment to linger on any of the feelings that thought stirred.

POV Change

Mei was already sitting on her front porch when Bakugo stopped at her gate. She stood when he glanced at her and began to pull air into herself.

...Jasmine flowers...honey...pine needles…

She felt Bakugo pull in air as she approached. He closed his eyes briefly and she blushed, knowing he was smelling her. When he opened his eyes, he looked her up and down. She'd put on a black turtleneck sweater with matching black jeans. Over this she wore a long and stylish yellow coat; her most comfortable boots completed the outfit. She had purposely forbidden herself from wearing makeup. As always, her hair floated loosely around her.

"Let's go" Bakugo grunted at her, lifting his eyes to hers.

"Alright" she said and stood expectantly next to him.

He said nothing more, but began walking in the direction of the festival.

"How far is it?" Mei asked, falling into step beside him.

"Few blocks." He said. There was a park where this happened every year.

"Have you ever been before?" she asked.

"WHY DO YOU CARE?" He barked at her, causing her to flinch. When he saw this, she thought she saw a flicker of regret in her eyes.

"I'm...I'm just trying to talk to you." Mei said, demanding that the tears pricking in her eyes dry up immediately. "If we're going to hang out tonight, we should talk. Or we can stand in miserable silence, I guess! If that's what you want."

He said nothing but wore a dark look on his face.

Finally he did speak, "I've never been."

"Oh. Why not?" Mei asked. She saw his jaw clench.

"I just haven't." he said.

"Well...are you excited then?"

"You wish" he grunted.

Mei paused for a moment, debating over whether or not she should be insulted. Then she smiled, "You know what? I think you are excited. You just don't want to admit it."

He said nothing, but was clearly annoyed. The sun was below the horizon now and the neighborhood was shadowed in twilight. In the distance Mei could hear the music of the festival.

She considered a moment and then spoke softly. "I guess you don't have to talk to me. But I wish you would. I think I'd like to know what goes on inside there." she tapped his temple lightly with her finger.

Bakugo looked at her, astonished.

Mei couldn't help but smile, "I'm sorry. I'm just trying to loosen you up, Bakugo."

He stuffed his hands in his pockets roughly and Mei thought there might have been a smirk hinting at the corners of his mouth.

"Let's go." He turned in the direction of the festival entrance and kept moving.

POV Change.

Did he know how to loosen up? Bakugo didn't know. What he did know was that, if he could, this airhead wouldn't be the one to do it. He felt her following him closely as they passed through the entrance of the festival; she made a soft breeze wherever she went.

She'd walked in front of him as he handed the ticket taker their tickets. Bakugo watched her face light up with amazement as she looked around at all the color, light, and noise. She looked innocent and the observation brought back heat to the pit of his stomach.

What had surprised him most about her tapping him on the temple was not the fact that she'd touched him. It was how there she had felt. To look at her, you wouldn't think that she was solid in any way, with her constantly shifting and shimmering skin. But he'd felt her finger, warm and soft, against the skin of his face. She was there, entirely. Even if she looked like a puff of white smoke.

He walked up to stand next to her, "So?" he grunted at her.

She spun to look at him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright, "What?"

"Are we just gonna stand here?" he asked. He was surprised to catch small traces of amusement and eagerness in his own voice. He quickly put a scowl on his face to hide this. She had gotten him here, but Bakugo would be damned if he made a fool out of himself by laughing and smiling at everything like all these other idiots.

"Oh. Um...are you hungry?" She asked him and pulled a small roll of money out of her coat pocket. "I haven't eaten yet."

He raised his eyebrows slightly and felt his face grow warmer.

...She brought her own money…, he thought, ignoring his disappointment.

"I can eat." he said.

"Do they have yakitori? And onigiri?" she asked him.

He began to walk to where he knew the food stalls would be set up. ...So this is what air people eat…

Once they had their food, Bakugo led them to a clear patch of grass and lowered himself down. She stood above him for a moment, looking at the grass and then down at her coat. Slowly, Mei lowered herself to the ground, stopping only an inch from the grass. Bakugo saw the grass beneath her go flat to the ground, even without her touching it.

He let out a harsh snort through a mouth full of chicken.

She blushed, "I don't want to stain my clothes. Do you mind?"

He shook his head, "Whatever."

They ate quietly and watched the people milling back and forth between the stalls. Children ran by with sparklers, their laughter blending with the music.

Bakugo watched Mei eat from the corner of his eye. Everything she did was dainty. He did not know what that felt like. He liked to think that every move he made was powerful and strong….Like she knows shit about that...

He kept watching; the bites she took seemed too small for even a bird. He saw her brush a bit of sauce from her cheek and then lick her finger. The gesture surprised and pleased him. He found himself wondering what her cheek felt like.

She looked at him suddenly, "Are you okay?"

"Why?" he asked defensively, anger spreading across his face.

"Your breathing changed." Mei said, looking at him with slight suspicion. "I can feel it. I can feel all these people," she looked over to the festival and then back at him, "everyone's breath makes changes in the air."

"Don't listen to my breathing." He growled and took a large bite of rice.

"Fine..." She smiled as an idea came to her, "Think we could find a dessert stall?"

"Probably."

"After that, I'd love to play some of the games before we watch the fireworks." She was getting excited, "I've always loved fireworks. Something about them gives me a big thrill. We used to watch them all the time back in my old town."

He balled up his trash.

She went on, "My dad got a job in this area. I guess that happens to a lot of kids. There's a lot I miss about my old house, and my old friends." She looked at him for some type of reaction.

Bakugo watched her, his eyes hard and unreadable.

She pushed herself upwards with, what Bakugo assumed was, a blast of air. Mei hopped up and landed on her feet, "But, I suppose, it won't be so bad once I…" she stopped and looked away from him and towards the stalls again.

"What?" he asked annoyed, stopping himself from reaching out to shake her shoulder. He didn't like her looking away from him.

She turned back, "Once I make friends." She laughed softly.

Why was she telling him this?...Is she saying she wants ME to be her friend?... The idea did something to his pulse. Bakugo grunted in response and took her food wrappers from her. "This way."

She ran ahead of him, excited again by the energy of the crowd, "I hope they have something with raspberry in it!" she said, happily

Suddenly, Mei was flying forward; the crowd surged and one particularly bulky man had backed into her. With a violent lurch, she was thrown off balance. Mei's eyes widened as she tumbled towards the ground, fast.

Bakugo moved quickly to catch her. She fell into his chest with a small squeak. Holding her steady, he shouted at the man who'd pushed her, "WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING DUMBASS!" The man waved his drunken apology. Bakugo glared at him angrily "COME BACK HERE YOU IDIOT!" But the man was gone.

Looking down again, Bakugo saw Mei looking up at him, her eyes wide, "I'm..I'm sorry." He removed her hands from his chest with a jerk and stood her up right.

"That drunk idiot." He growled, scanning the crowd.

"I'm really okay...Thank you." she said again, "Normally I catch myself when that happens. He caught me off guard."

He snorted, "Whatever you say, airhead. Let's go."

"I told you not to call me that!"

He looked sternly at her, his rage beginning to bubble. ...Girl's don't makeout with guys who yell all the time... Why was he thinking about that? "DO YOU WANT DESSERT OR NOT?" he barked at her.

"Yes I do, but not if you're going to be a jerk!" Mei said, with a stomp of her foot.

Bakugo fought the urge to scream but he remained silent as he waited for her to follow him.

When she finally did, they found the dessert stalls without any further issue. Mei got a pastry stuffed with vanilla and raspberry cream. She'd asked for chocolate sprinkles on top. Bakugo had gotten two green tea mochi. They walked around the festival as they ate, looking at the displays and shows being put on.

When her pastry was almost finished, Mei said, "Thank you again for catching me."

Bakugo grunted, "Get over it..." he saw her brace for him to insult her, "Sayuri." he finished.

Mei smiled as she heard him say her name, "I bet I could beat you in the ring toss."

He snorted at her and rolled his eyes. He smiled at her for the first time, "You're dead."

POV Change

Soon they were standing at a booth with screaming festival music and bright flashing lights. "Ring Toss!" the sign flashed at everyone passing by. A man in a color uniform stood, barking at people in an attempt to shame them into playing.

As they approached, the man said to Bakugo, "There's a good man! Come to win your pretty girlfriend a stuffed animal? You're one of a kind, kid one of a kind!"

Bakugo seethed next to her, "SHUT UP, OLD MAN! HOW MUCH TO PLAY?"

The barker raised his eyebrows, "Geeze, sorry. It's three yen for five rings."

Mei reached into her pocket, but saw Bakugo quickly hand over six yen to the man.

"Oh, thank you." She said happily as she took the five rings the man handed her.

"Don't be so surprised." Bakugo snarled, "Just get ready to lose."

"You're going first?" Mei asked.

"Just pay attention, got it?" Bakugo told her cockily as he took his stance in front of the rings.

"Score three to win a prize!" the barker said.

Bakugo shot him a quick glare before turning his focus back to the tall sticks. With perfect coordination, he let the first ring fly. Mei could see that it was going right for the center pole.

She closed her eyes, a mischievous smile on her face, and made a small fluid gesture with her hand. The ring was blown off course two inches to the right and it clattered to the floor. "That's a miss!" the baker shouted.

Bakugo looked at the ring toss in outrage, "WHAT THE HELL?" he yelled.

"Just try again, Bakugo." Mei said, grinning coyly at him.

He turned back to the ring toss and repeated his perfect throw a second time. Again Mei moved the air, causing the ring to miss its mark.

"YOU'RE CHEATING!" Bakugo yelled, rounding on her.

...Busted...

"Okay, okay, you caught me!" She laughed, holding up her hands in surrender.

"You're damn right I did," Bakugo growled, "Cut it out."

"Fine, fine." Mei smiled.

As promised, she let Bakugo attempt his last three shots without any interference. He landed all three rings perfectly.

"Winner here! Winner, winner!" the barker screamed, drawing the attention of everyone walking past, "What prize do you want, kid?"

"That stupid fish." Bakugo said, jerking his head in the direction of the little gold guppy. The man gingerly handed Bakugo the bag and he immediately turned to Mei, "Here."

"You won it for me?" Mei asked, putting her hand on her chest dramatically, "Bakugo, you shouldn't have!"

"I DIDN'T WIN IT FOR YOU! I JUST DON'T WANT IT!" He baked at her, his face going red.

"Bakugo, relax!" Mei laughed, taking the fish from him, "I'm just teasing you. Thank you for the fish. He's really cute!"

Bakugo growled at her with a scowl on his face as he shoved his hands back into his pockets, "Your turn."

Mei handed him her fish and he took it reluctantly, "For safekeeping." She said sweetly.

Just as she let her first ring fly, she felt a sharp burn in her earlobe, "Ouch!" she said, her hand jerking up to grab her ear. Her ring landed a foot short of its mark.

She turned to look at Bakugo who was looking at her with a smug smile. He flicked his thumb against the inside of his fist and Mei saw the end of his thumb spark like a lighter. A small flame danced on the tip and Bakugo's smile grew wider.

Mei couldn't help but be impressed. She chuckled, "That hurt."

"Don't cheat." he responded simply.

"Fair enough. So. your quirk is... fire fingers?" She guessed, teasingly.

He gave his head a quick shake, and then looked at her with a cocky sneer, "Hurry up and lose so you can take your stupid fish."

As it turned out, Bakugo was nearly right about her being dead; he had beaten Mei at all but two of the festival games. One had involved blowing up balloons; a game in which, Bakugo had pointed out, Mei had a clear and unfair advantage.

They walked towards the field after they'd had their fun and Bakugo was loaded down with an armful of prizes.

"What are you going to do with all of those?" She asked him, teasing. He shot her a look that clearly stated she knew damn well what he'd do with them, "You can't just toss them in the trash!" Mei laughed.

"THE HELL I CAN'T!" Bakugo yelled, his face turning red. "I DON'T WANT THEM!"

"Oh well," Mei chuckled, "They're going to look great in your room." She blushed slightly ...Why should I blush? He's been in my room, I can talk about his…

Bakugo looked around at the festival goers. Suddenly he shouted, "HEY YOU! GIRL!"

A young girl in pigtails and a pink flowered jacket flinched and turned to him, her fear filled eyes brimming with tears, "Mm..me?" she stammered at him softly.

"Yeah," Bakugo grunted, "here." He shoved the dozen stuffed animals into her little arms. And then turned to Mei, "Let's go." He stomped away without looking back,

Mei watched the young girl as she followed after him. "Thank...thank you, sir!" she called, her voice muffled as she fought to see around the prizes. When her face did break free, her smile was dazzling.

When they were finally sitting next to each other on the grass, Mei leaned over and whispered to him, "That was really sweet, Bakugo." She looked at the fish sitting in her lap, swimming happily in a circle.

Bakugo flashed her a brief glare and then turned away.

"Well, it was. You made her very happy." Mei said,... And you made me very happy too…

"Whatever." he growled at her. His tone said that he was ready to kill her, but a blush had crept into his face and Mei wondered if he wasn't pleased with himself.

Bakugo sat on the grass with one leg outstretched and his other bent. He leaned casually backwards, supporting himself on his arms. He looked up at the dark sky, saying nothing.

Mei sat next to him on a small cushion of air, with her feet and coat tucked under her. She also turned to watch the sky, but could not help but glance at the boy she was with every few minutes.

...Did he have a good time?...Was I fun?... Mei wondered...I could ask him...But he'd probably bite my head off...he's just so angry all the time…I wonder why?...

Summoning her courage, Mei asked, " So, did you have a good time tonight?" She looked at him, hoping to hide how much she cared from her face.

Before Bakugo could answer her, if he was going to, there was a large bang and a gasp from the crowd; the night sky was lit up with a bright purple light, and then again as golden and green light exploded in unison. Her question forgotten for the moment, Mei watched the show with Bakugo in silence.

POV Change

Soon after they had left the festival, the pair turned onto their street. Bakugo walked next to Mei who floated easily beside him; she smelled like cotton candy, smoke, and fresh cut grass. The scent filled Bakugo's nose, threatening to bring him into an intoxicating fog.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw that she appeared to be glowing. ...She looks like moonlight... Shaking the thought from his head with an internal snarl, Bakugo forced himself to think about anything else.

To his dismay, the first thing that came to mind was Mei's face as she watched the firework show; during the finale he'd thought she was going to burst from all the joy he saw in her eyes. She'd been soaking it all in, every color and light burst, like each explosion was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. Near the end, Bakugo had seen a tear fall gently down her face. Again that warm feeling had filled his stomach to the brim.

...What the hell is wrong with me?... He shook his head again and looked straight ahead of him at the taillight of a car parked on the street.

"So you're still not going to tell me your quirk, huh?" she asked, quietly.

"No." Bakugo said, masking his surprise under annoyance.

"Well I guess we'll both surprise each other at the exam then." Mei said, lifting the bag to look at her fish.

Bakugo watched her from the corner of his eye but said nothing.

They stopped in front of her gate. Neither of them moved as they waited for the other to break the silence.

Finally, Mei spoke, "Thank you for bringing me tonight. I had a really good time. And, um, thanks again for helping us move in."

Bakugo nodded at her without meeting her eye...Look at her, you idiot…

"I uh, I guess I'll see you at the exam. Good luck." Mei smiled.

Bakugo was silent.

"Well...goodnight, Bakugo." She said and opened her gate.

When she was halfway to her door, Bakugo growled after her, "Hey!"

Mei turned to look at him questioningly.

Bakugo scowled at her for a moment and then spoke, gruffly, "If I wasn't having a good time with you tonight, I wouldn't have stayed; got it?"

Mei nodded at him, a small smile coming to her lips.

...I made her smile...she wanted me to have a good time with her…

"Welcome to the neighborhood, Sayuri." Bakugo said, his eyes meeting hers. He nodded and then turned to begin walking towards his house. He did not look to see if she was still watching him as he shut the front door behind him.

Once he was in his room, Bakugo took his outer clothes off and fell into bed. Turning off his light, he looked at the bedroom ceiling, taking deep calming breaths.

Suddenly, he stood. Keeping the lights off, he walked to his window and looked through the curtains.

That was her bedroom, right across from his. Her lights were off. He unlatched the lock on his window and lifted it open, letting the night air flood in. It felt frosty on his skin. Turning back to his bed, he sat down on its edge briefly before laying back down and getting under the covers.

After an hour, sleep had still not come and Bakugo knew why. He ran his hands over his face and let out an exasperated sigh which clouded the air in front of his face.

...Stupid girl… Bakugo thought; he was determined to convince himself that's exactly what she was.