Sorry for taking so long . Life has had some MAJOR changes since my last upload. I still intend to finish this story! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you're still enjoying it!
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A few days had gone by since Bakugo and Minamoto's mall trip. Since then, they had been practically inseparable. They trained together, studied together, ate together, and played video games into the late-night hours. Not that they purposefully scheduled time, it was just easy to run into Minamoto once Bakugo realized she was staying next door.
Every morning, Bakugo would see her making her way downstairs. A simple good morning would quickly turn into an invitation and the two would be off on whatever the day had in store for them. No matter what was going on, they simply enjoyed each other's company. Their relationship at this point was purely platonic, or at least that's what each of them thought.
Despite Kirishima's words, Bakugo couldn't bring himself to ask Minamoto out. Despite wanting to take their relationship to the next level, Bakugo's ego wouldn't let him. It held him tight in a sea of insecurities and 'what ifs'. What if she didn't feel the same way? What if she rejects him, what then would happen to their friendship? If Minamoto did like Bakugo, why hasn't she made her move yet?
Each question raced through Bakugo's mind. Many nights Bakugo would lay awake thinking about their relationship. Her face being the last image Bakugo would see before drifting off to sleep, the first he'd imagine when opening his eyes. What was this hold she had on him? His only escape was during class where he could focus on Aizawa's lecture more than the white-haired goddess sitting behind him. Kirishima and Sero didn't make things any easier. Every day the two would try to pull the latest gossip from Bakugo. "What did you guys do yesterday," "did you kiss," "did you ask her out yet?"
Bakugo got to the point where he almost didn't want to be around them anymore, he had to figure this out on his own without being rushed into anything. A forced confession would only cheapen things, if Bakugo was going to make his move, it had to be natural. But first, he had to make sure of one thing, how did she feel?
Bakugo sat at his desk, trying to focus on Aizawa's math lecture, desperately trying to ignore the sweet smell overpowering his nose. Aizawa was in the middle of teaching calculus when Bakugo felt something double-tap the back of his neck. He nonchalantly moved his hand to the back of his head to feel a folded piece of paper. He waited for Aizawa's back to be turned before taking the paper and unfolding it on his desk. The words "are you as bored as I am?" were written on the little white paper in red ink.
Bakugo smirked, trying to show as little emotion as possible to not get caught. He scribbled "yeah, this sucks." on the paper and slowly passed it back. A few moments later, he felt the same tap and reached behind him. He quietly unfolded the paper once more. "Wanna have lunch together?" was all that was written, their previous messages scratched out. Bakugo smiled once again as he wrote the words "hell yeah" on the paper before passing it back once more. It was weird, he couldn't see Minamoto but he could feel her. He could feel her presents, her warmth, and incredibly, the smile that was stretched across her face.
Lunch quickly came and Bakugo began packing his bag. He had just finished up before feeling a soft double-tap right in the center of the back of his neck. This touch had become familiar to Bakugo over the past few days. Any time Minamoto wanted his attention she would gently double-tap the back of his neck with her warm fingertip. Most would think it'd be annoying, but not him. Bakugo would never admit it, but he absolutely loved this. It was the only instance where he could feel her skin on his own, even if it was just for a moment. That brief second of warmth was more than enough to make Bakugo's day.
He smiled internally, not letting her see just how happy it made him. "Hey you, ready to go? I'm starving." Minamoto said as she pulled her backpack onto her shoulders. Bakugo nodded before the two made their way to the lunchroom. On the way, Minamoto couldn't help but get stopped by multiple students who wanted to check out her quirk. Bakugo didn't mind, he actually took advantage of this. It was the only time he could stare at her when she spoke to someone else. Every time Minamoto was dragged into a conversation, Bakugo would make sure to analyze her every feature, as nonchalantly as possible. Each examination only leaving him more baffled than before, how could someone be so damn beautiful? Her smile, her laugh, her posture, everything about Minamoto spoke directly to Bakugo's heart and soul. It was as if someone had created her specifically for him.
The two finally reached the cafeteria and grabbed some food. Bakugo quickly scanned the cafeteria for an empty table, he spotted one to his left towards the back. Just as he was about to make his way over to the empty spot he felt Minamoto nudge him with her elbow. "Let's eat outside, there's a place I want to show you." She said before making her way towards the exit doors. Bakugo silently shrugged and followed behind as Minamoto walked through the doors, past the courtyard, and into another building.
This building was not unfamiliar to Bakugo, it was the training building where he had perfected his AP Shot three years ago. The building was completely empty except for one person, a school employee. She was dressed in a janitor's uniform and was cleaning the floor with a mop and bucket. The woman looked up towards Minamoto and gave a soft smile followed by a friendly wave. Bakugo could tell by the woman's demeanor that she wasn't about to kick them out. Minamoto happily approached the woman, still holding her lunch with both hands.
"Hello my dear, I see you brought a friend with you today." The woman said as she put down her mop. "Yup, we're headed up to the ledge. Would you mind giving me a shout when the first bell rings? I don't think they've fixed the intercom up there yet." She said glancing up towards the ceiling. The woman giggled softly. "Of course, and by the way…" The woman said before leaning in a bit closer to Minamoto. "Your friend here is quite handsome. Is this the young man you were telling me about?" To this, Bakugo's eyes immediately shot over to Minamoto who at the same time turned bright red. "U-uh no, I mean, yes, well… This is Bakugo, he's just my friend, I mean, we are friends but uh… let's just go! I'll see you later, okay?" Minamoto said before rushing over to a nearby door.
It was odd, Bakugo had never seen Minamoto so flustered. She was always cool and collected, even when angry or excited. He stood back for a moment, trying to process what just happened. The woman stood by him, a big smile on her face, obviously pleased with herself. Bakugo was just about to follow Minamoto before the woman spoke. Her voice was soft and light. "You'd better snatch her up before he does." She said as she turned away to continue mopping.
Bakugo heard the woman, he truly did but didn't believe what he had heard. Maybe he heard wrong? He turned to the woman. "What did you say?" Bakugo asked, the woman giggled once more. "Oh, nothing!" She said before picking up her mop and bucket and began humming a light melody as she left the room. Bakugo felt more confused than before. What was that all about? Why did Minamoto get so embarrassed? Was Minamoto talking about me to other people? Was that good? Or bad? And what did the woman mean by "before he does?" Bakugo shook his head before taking off in Minamoto's direction. He went through the door to see a staircase, seeing there was no way out he figured she must have gone up and so, he started climbing. He reached the fourth floor before noticing a door that was propped open. It wasn't hard to find her, as creepy as it sounds, all Bakugo had to do was follow her scent. The stronger it was, the closer he'd gotten to finding her.
Feeling a bit cautious, Bakugo stood in front of the door and gently pushed it with one hand, holding his lunch with the other. Bright golden sunlight immediately broke through, almost blinding him. His vision slowly came back as he saw a balcony with a tremendous view. The ledge practically overlooked all of UA including the city and forest behind them. It was breathtaking, both the view and the person sitting before him. Minamoto sat before him under the bright sun. A blanket was tossed on the floor beneath her, she turned to greet him with a soft smile. Her caramel skin glowed, while her white hair shined brighter than any diamond he had ever seen. Her amber eyes glittered like gold as the warm rays of light bounded off of her iris. She really was the most beautiful thing Bakugo had ever seen.
He took a deep breath, careful to not show his true feelings. Careful to not show just how badly he wanted to hold her at that moment, how badly he wanted to kiss her, how badly he wanted to hide her so that no one would ever lay their eyes on his precious gem. He approached Minamoto, his heart rate slightly picking up. He took in another deep breath and exhaled as he took a seat next to her. She had already begun eating her lunch to which Bakugo joined her.
The two ate in complete silence, simply enjoying the view and each other's company. Minamoto was the first to finish. She placed her lunch tray on the ground and sat with her knees to her chest, resting her head on top. "It's so quiet up here." She said in a soft voice to not interrupt their peaceful environment. Bakugo simply nodded as he finished his lunch as well. He put down his tray as she continued. "I come up here every day for lunch. It's my favorite place in UA. When I'm here, I can be myself and not worry about what others are thinking or saying about me... I don't have to meet anyone's expectations."
There was a drop in Minamoto's voice towards the end, it was subtle but Bakugo easily picked up on it. "Expectations?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah… you know, from friends, family." She said with the same dropped tone. "Pfft, don't listen to that shit. The only expectations that are important are the ones you set for yourself. Screw everyone else." Bakugo said in his normal confident tone. Minamoto paused at this, letting out a long sigh. "You act like it's so easy to ignore what others say. Sometimes you don't have a choice but to listen." Minamoto said as she lifted her head from her knees and looked up towards the sky. Bakugo examined her face. What was up with her today? It's not like Minamoto to get flustered or insecure. She's normally so confident, almost as much as Bakugo.
Bakugo couldn't help but feel concerned. While he wasn't the most sensitive or emotional guy, he still cared for her and didn't like this side of Minamoto. He cleared his throat and straightened up his posture. "Hey, uh...are you, you know, alright?" He asked delicately but firm. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, I didn't mean to unload all of that on you." Minamoto said, shaking her head, brushing off her emotions. She couldn't help but feel bad, it wasn't normal for them to talk about their feelings. There was a pause between them, one that couldn't help but make Bakugo feel bad and question his current relationship with Minamoto. Was it really all that bad for her to open up? Doesn't that just mean she trusts him? If anything, he should be encouraging this behavior from her. He cleared his throat once more. "It's okay, you know, you can talk to me about whatever you want. I'm...happy to listen if that's what you need." Bakugo said while turning his face away to hide the slight blush which stretched across his cheeks.
Minamoto quickly glanced over at him, a hint of shock in her eyes. For the first time, Bakugo's rough exterior seemed soft and vulnerable. Not wanting to push it any further, Minamoto simply smiled. It was nice for someone to just listen, listen without trying to give her advice or fix her problems. Most of the time, that's all she really needed. She could figure things out on her own, but it felt nice to be able to share her problems with someone.
Without a word, Minamoto slowly leaned her body towards Bakugo's, gently resting her head on his shoulder. Bakugo didn't dare move. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't. He was in too much shock at what was going on. He wanted to question her action, look at her face, do something but feared if he did, it would ruin the moment. Luckily, he didn't have to. Minamoto spoke with a deep sigh. "Sorry, just, stay like this for a minute, please?" She asked, slightly leaning her body deeper into Bakugo's. Bakugo took a deep breath, relaxing his muscles, easing into Minamoto's curves. He didn't say anything back, he just sat there, trying his best to be of any use he could be to her.
The sun shined brightly on the two of them, warming their bodies. The sound of birds and a gentle breeze filled their ears. As far as Bakugo was concerned, he was pretty sure that this was heaven. Time almost felt as if it was standing still, as if they could stay up there forever and never get old, never have to worry about anything ever again. As long as they stayed there, in their own little world, nothing else mattered.
Unfortunately, their world came to a crash as a voice could be heard from inside the building. It was the janitor woman, informing Minamoto of the first bell. The two sat there for a few moments more, neither wanting their time together to end. Minamoto was the first to move. Bakugo felt a knot in his chest as he felt Minamoto pull away from him. She gave him a half-smile, obviously a little disappointed as well. "I guess we should start heading back." She said, picking up her lunch tray. "Yeah…" Bakugo said, begrudgingly following her actions.
Bakugo took one more look at Minamoto, sunlight dancing on her caramel skin, and realized, now is the time. There wouldn't be a more perfect moment than now, he had to take his chance. He took a deep breath just as she was about to open the door. "Hey, Minamoto." He said, trying his best to not stutter or sound embarrassed. She turned to him, in the most graceful way. "Yeah?" She asked, now facing him. Bakugo could feel himself getting lost in her gaze, with each passing moment he lost more and more confidence. If he was going to do this, it had to be quick.
"So, I just wanted to say that… well…" Bakugo paused, trying to find the right words. He had practiced this scene in his head over a dozen times but now that it was time for the real deal, he found himself drawing a blank. "Well?" Minamoto asked, patiently waiting. Bakugo took one final deep breath, building all of his remaining courage in his chest.
"Well, I-" Bakugo started but was cut off by another voice. "Minamoto! You'd better hurry if you don't want to be late!" The woman shouted from downstairs. If Bakugo's courage was a balloon, it had just popped. Minamoto shouted back to the woman, thanking her for the reminder and reassuring her that they were on their way. She turned back to Bakugo who had now been completely thrown off course. "You were saying?" Minamoto asked one last time. Bakugo looked away, not ashamed at his failed attempt. "Nothing, forget I said anything," Bakugo said in a defeated voice.
Minamoto shrugged this off and the two made their way back to the first floor. They both said goodbye to the janitor before making their way back to class. Bakugo spent the entire walk kicking himself for losing his nerve. Was he ever going to stop being such a wimp and ask her out? Why was this so damn difficult? For Bakugo, anything was possible if he set his mind to it, anything but this.
The two had just about made it back to class when Minamoto stopped just before entering the room. Bakugo paused with her, waiting to see what was up. "Hey…" Minamoto started. Bakugo turned to face her, giving her his full attention. "So, um, feel free to say no to this but… My cousins and I are having lunch on Sunday at this cool sushi restaurant. Would you, you know, like to come with us?" Minamoto asked, feeling rather sheepish. Bakugo hesitated, thinking of his response. If it had just been the two of them, he'd accept immediately, but this was her AND her cousins. Her cousins including the bitchy one from the mall.
Bakugo thought about whether or not he should go. After all, it is her family, he would probably feel out of place. Wouldn't he be imposing on them? It was at this moment that Minamoto intervened on Bakugo's thoughts. "I told them you'd probably say no but they insisted I ask. What do you say?" She said in the sweetest voice, one so sweet Bakugo couldn't begin to imagine saying no to. He let out a sigh, deciding that cousins or not, it was a chance to hang out with Minamoto outside of school, maybe this would give him a second opportunity to confess.
"Yeah, sure." He said before giving her a reassuring smile. Despite his hesitation and concerns, agreeing to go became all too worth it the second he saw Minamoto's face light up. It was as if he had just made her wishes come true. "Really? Awesome! I'll give you more details later when we decide on a time, okay?" She said before turning away and entering the classroom. Bakugo hesitated before following her inside, visualizing her smile in his mind, few things in this world were as pure as the look on her happy face. It made his heart feel warm, it made him feel like he would do anything just to see that smile again, anything, just for her.
Chapter 8 to come soon!~