Spring break before start of Third Year...

KATSUKI BAKUGO, A SOON-TO-BE THIRD year student at UA High, was seated on the swing in their backyard enjoying some peace and quiet after his folks left for their onsen retreat that they'd been planning for the past three years now. He heard them talking about it around the time he started at UA, but his first year in the hero course at the prestigious high school wasn't all fun and games; that business with the League of Villains set the tone on how his first year went. The only reprieve he had was during the school festival where Class 1-A performed in front of the entire student body who thought they were nothing but troublemakers who kept hogging the spotlight from their senpais.

It was midmorning and his parents left a good hour and a half ago. Bakugo practically had to kick both of them out of the house because they were taking too long to leave; his mom kept finding excuses to delay their departure and his old man was starting to lose his patience, which was something considering it was his old man who was usually the cool headed one of the two. Bakugo just smirked as a really inappropriate thought crossed his mind as to why his old man was in a rush to get to their destination.

"As long as they don't come back and surprise me with a pregnancy announcement thirteen weeks later," he chuckled, closing his eyes and slouching down on the swing so he can hook the back of his head on the swing seat's backrest.

He was jolted awake when he heard his personalized text tone he set for his individual classmates go off. He figured personalizing each of his classmates' text and ring tones would make it easier for him to determine whether he should answer their text or call right away or leave them on unread or unanswered until he felt like wanting to respond to them.

This particular text tone was from none other than the one guy who was ballsy enough to disturb him when he – as well as everyone else – knew he didn't want to be disturbed: KIRISHIMA.

Reaching over the small side table beside the swing for his phone, Bakugo brought the sleeping gadget to life and checked on the text message.

KIRISHIMA: yo, McSplodey! u busy?

Bakugo glared at the nickname the bastard christened him with since their first year at UA. Kirishima had a plethora of other names he called him, but he often come around to using that damn name whenever he sends him a text message. And it all had something to do with a freaking accident that one time nearing the end of their first year and the stupid idiot walked in to his room without knocking while Bakugo was in the middle of relieving himself.

It was a very embarrassing moment for the two of them that they both agreed to forget. Only Kirishima the Idiot wouldn't let him live it down and kept calling him 'McSplodey' alluding to more than just his penchant for making shit explode.

BAKUGO: what do u want?

KIRISHIMA: i'm bored *sad face*

BAKUGO: not really my problem, is it?

KIRISHIMA: whoa! that's just effing cold, man. y u gonna b like that?

BAKUGO: i dunno. u fucking tell me.

"You're the one who freaking sent me a text, moron," he spat out loud, glaring at his phone screen imagining it was the redhead's face he was glaring at.

KIRISHIMA: sounds like somebody's backed up *evil grin* why not rub one out before u bite someone's head off.

BAKUGO: fuck off! i don't need to deal with your horny ass. why don't u rub one off yourself and leave me the fuck alone! *angry face*

KIRISHIMA: aww, Splodey baby, y u gonna b like that? *pout*

Bakugo didn't control himself from rolling his eyes at the absurdity of his friend. Man, after all these years he didn't think he'd genuinely refer to anyone – other than Deku whom he had a history with since they were childhood buds – as his friend. Everyone in class were just tolerable idiots as far as he was concerned, with the exception of Kirishima and yeah, maybe Kaminari too since that shithead's grown on him too over the course of the last three years together at UA.

BAKUGO: is there a reason y you're disrupting my peace, Carrot Top?

His chosen pet name for him was lame for sure. Kirishima wasn't even a true redhead; the jerk just dyed his black hair red to match his Hero idol. But the idiot somehow managed to pull off the red hair and he never went back to his original black.

KIRISHIMA: jeez, you're such a party pooper.

BAKUGO: yeah, yeah, i already know that. now, either u tell me why you interrupted my me-time or i'll ignore your texts and calls for the rest of spring break.

KIRISHIMA: okay, okay! jeez, hold your horses. haven't u heard of social bantering? anyway, a group of us are planning on having a hanami right before we start our third and final year at UA. Yaoyorozu put me in charge of contacting people to let them know.

Bakugo reread Kirishima's message. He tried recalling a time when their class did a flower viewing get together. They got together often enough since once the school year starts, all of them would be stuck living in the same dorm again until they finish school, but since their first year they've never done something as simple as enjoy a picnic underneath the blooming Sakura trees.

BAKUGO: when?

KIRISHIMA: whoa, whoa, whoa, u actually r going?

BAKUGO: y u sound surprised? i'll think about it.

KIRISHIMA: it wouldn't hurt your bad boy persona if u decided to make an appearance, ya know?

BAKUGO: what the fuck are you talking about? r u really trying my patience here, Riot Hair?!

KIRISHIMA: *laughing* chillax, man. i'm just yanking your damn chain, sheesh! anyway, Yaoyorozu will send a group text to everybody with time and date.

BAKUGO: i thought they put you in charge of contacting people?

KIRISHIMA: nah, Yaoyorozu just didn't want to deal with your sorry ass so she told me to contact you and let you know. *yawn* you'd think after three years together the girls in our class would warm up to ya, but nooooooo, Mr Splodey Pants kept snapping at anyone who attempted to get friendly with him.

BAKUGO: they're idiots. I don't have time to deal with idiots.

KIRISHIMA: Yaoyorozu happens to be one of the top in our class, Exploding Head!

Bakugo glared at the other nickname Kirishima gave him after that embarrassing incident. His timing was just fucking perfect when he walked in and Bakugo just hit his peak and made his grand finale, making a mess of his sheets as well as the floor too as he clamored to hide his freaking dick under his blanket because Kirishima didn't know how to fucking knock.

BAKUGO: still an idiot. anyway, just send me a text when u morons finally figured out the where and when for the hanami.

KIRISHIMA: will do.

Bakugo left Kirishima's message as READ and put his phone to sleep mode again. He pushed the thought of a hanami with his classmates at the back of his head and enjoyed the cool midmorning spring breeze.

Day of the Sakura viewing...

"YOU ACTUALLY MADE IT!" Kirishima clapped Bakugo's shoulder and sounded – as well as looked – genuinely surprised when he walked up to where their class setup their blankets under the numerous Sakura trees that were in full bloom.

"Of course I did, idiot," he snapped. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you're a social snob and people hater," Kaminari answered, appearing on the other side of Bakugo holding two red plastic cups and handed one to him.

"Tch, I'm not a snob," he denied, accepting the cup the other member of their trio party handed him. He took a quick sip while scanning the area they reserved for their party. He noticed everyone from their class showed up, plus a few other he didn't think he'd see joining them. "Why are there this many people here?" he turned and directed his question at Kirishima.

"Deku invited Togata, and The Big 3 won't be complete without Hado and Amajiki," he explained.

"Why is Togata invited in the first place? I thought this get-together is just for our class?" Bakugo asked irately.

"Beats me," Kirishima shrugged. "I guess he and Deku have gotten close since Togata became a TA at UA last year after he graduated." Since Togata lost his quirk back when they were still in their first year, UA staff – as well as other members of the Hero society – were working to figure out a way to bring his quirk back. He lost it after rescuing Eri from the hands of Kai Chisaki; he was hit by the quirk-destroying drug Chisaki was producing to use against Heroes. While they were working on restoring his lost quirk, UA hired him as a Teacher Assistant since he has vast knowledge and good rapport with students as well as UA teachers.

Bakugo glanced over to where the blond haired alumni and the green haired former quirkless third year were talking. They were standing just a wee bit close for comfort, even if they were really good, close friends there was something about the way they stood beside each other and looked at each other that says there was something else going on between them. And Deku's smile...crap, he hasn't seen that kinda smitten smile on that moron's face since they both crushed on their preschool teacher years ago!

"Well I'll be damned," Bakugo said under his breath, smirking as he averted his eyes from the duo.

"Huh? Did you say something?" Kirishima frowned at his smirking friend.

"Nothing," Bakugo erased the smirk he had on and drank the rest of the cup's contents. "I don't know what you idiots planned for today, but I better not get bored outta my head or I'm walking," he threatened.

"Yeah, yeah," Kirishima chuckled, tapping his shoulder blade as he led him to where the other guys were gathered.

Bakugo played nice with everyone and kept a close eye on Deku and Togata. He noticed them slip away from the group and disappeared for a good half hour. Nobody noticed their disappearing act since everyone was busy mingling and playing whatever games the girls came up with, but Bakugo noticed and noted that they returned back from wherever it was they disappeared too holding hands until they were close enough to their picnic area before unclasping their hold on each other.

Togata sought out his two friends while Deku walked up to Uraraka and Iida, helping them win the card game Mineta insisted everyone played and Uraraka was close to losing her top if she put down a weak card on the pile.

From time to time Bakugo would catch Deku and Togata look at each other from across the field, an unspoken understanding shared between them and a soft smile would appear on their faces before they'd quickly look away, but not before Deku's face would turn a bright shade of red and Togata's ears looked like a pair of red hot peppers.

He wasn't disgusted by what he was seeing. He was surprised, yeah, since he didn't think Deku swung that way. Although at one point he did suspect Deku to be batting for the same team, but he quickly discarded that after he saw him got friendly with a few of the girls at UA (not just the girls from their class, but from other classes and levels too).

He wished he could talk to Deku and pick his brain about dating another guy. His curiosity was irked to say the least, but since he got the feeling that Deku and Togata were keeping their relationship under the radar for obvious reasons (Deku was still a student and Togata's still working as a TA at UA), he didn't want to be an ass and out those two before they were ready.

He might be mean and snarky, but he knew how to respect one's damn privacy! He kept Deku's quirk secret, didn't he? He still can't believe All Might chose him to be his successor; that riled Bakugo up real good, but he eventually got over it. Nowadays he enjoys egging Deku on about making his borrowed quirk his own, which he was doing a damn good job of if Bakugo had to be honest.

Bakugo kept an eye on the lovebirds on and off throughout the rest of their picnic. Aside from The Big 3, another alumni was also in attendance plus a couple of guys from their year but in different classes. Uraraka won the card game by the skin of her teeth and didn't bother joining the next round; Mineta lost all five rounds he played and had to pose in just his skivvies for all the girls to take 'incriminating' pictures of him. It was Mineta's 'punishment' idea for the loser; he should've known better before he opened his damned mouth. The girls in their class (as well as any other class) would fight to the death to preserve their dignity instead of become Mineta's fetish fantasy plaything.

Everybody called it a day around nine o'clock. Bakugo stuck around and helped with the cleanup while their guests left before them, except for Togata who chose to remain and wait for them.

Bakugo knew the reason why he stayed behind. If those two idiots wanted to keep their relationship a secret for now, they better be smart about not being too effing obvious about it!

"Yo, stupid Deku!" Bakugo grunted when he made his way to where Deku was cleaning up some trash.

"What do you want, Kacchan?" Deku let out a long suffering sigh and continued putting trash in the black plastic bag he was holding in one hand.

"Better tell Togata to beat it unless you two want to be found out," he said then walked away, but not before he saw Deku's back stiffen like a damn board and his hand stopped moving from disposing the used paper plates. He didn't stick around to hear what he has to say though.

He already did his Good Samaritan deed for the day and that was that. He shouldn't even have stuck his fucking nose in their business, but as a friend – no matter how much of an asshole of a friend to Deku he was – he didn't want to put him and his budding romance in jeopardy in case untrustworthy people finds out about them and blabs about it to everyone back at UA.

That would put Togata in a very delicate and tough position. The poor guy would probably have to pack his belongings and quit working as a TA to avert a scandal of epic proportions.

"Hey Shithead, this bag's full!" He called out to Kirishima who was busy helping the girls fold the blankets they used.

"So?" Kirishima glared at him.

"Go throw it out and get me a new bag!" he ordered.

"Don't be an asshole, Bakugo!" scolded Iida who grabbed his full bag from his hands and handed him a new one.

Bakugo looked down at the folded black plastic bag in his hand and huffed. He shook the bag open and resumed picking up leftover trash that the others might've overlooked. He had a feeling he'd need to re-check Deku's area since he probably rattled him to the core by telling him – without actually telling him – that he knew about his relationship with their TA.