Bakugou isn't stupid. He's smart when it comes to prowess in battle, and isn't afraid to flaunt it in public. On patrols people gaze at him like a god, or at least that's what he gets from the looks in some of their eyes. He doesn't mind it.

Bakugou isn't stupid.

But dear god, if his 'friends' don't stop treating him like a lower life form, he's gonna crack some skulls. Who do they take him for? Kirishima and Kaminari, especially! Ever since a few days ago, they've been awfully suspicious.

They'll ask some dumb shit like, "Hey, Bakugou, ever thought of getting a girlfriend?" or, "Does the all-mighty Ground Zero have a crush on anyone?~" in the most bastardized tones he's ever heard. He's not surprised Ashido will ask questions of her own, but it's getting to the point where Bakugou might just punch her jaw off so she can't speak anymore.

What a load of shit.

They're all driving him nuts. More than usual. Bakugou can tell they're hiding something, but they won't say anything. When he asks what the hell they're up to, they'll snub it and reply, "Oh, nothing. Just curious."

And the worst part?

All these questions about being lovey-dovey and sickeningly sweet romance is making him think about it!

It's true! He won't deny it that he's actually never had a real relationship before, but what does that have to do with anything?! So what if Deku's getting married before him? Deku can do whatever the fuck he wants! Bakugou doesn't need a relationship, anyway!

Really, he doesn't!

He doesn't.

…

He does.

Bakugou will never admit that he's insanely irritated at the fact no one his age showed any sign of… affection toward him. But in his position, what good would love do him? He doesn't need it. Love is something that hinders him. He thinks of it as a disease, something that plagues your head until you've gone crazy from it.

His mom once told him, "That nasty attitude of yours is gonna keep the girls away, brat."

He thought it was fucking stupid at the time.

Now? He couldn't care less, yet the quote lingers in his mind every now and then. 'Keep the girls away.' Like that's a bad thing. It's a good thing. It's a good thing.

Bakugou just keeps telling himself that. He doesn't need to be infected.

He doesn't need love.

He doesn't need a girlfriend.

He doesn't need affection.

Really, he doesn't.

He doesn't.

…

…

"Bakugou."

He looks to Kaminari. "What."

"We're all gunna be heading to the Summer Festival this year. Four weeks. Whaddya say? Wanna come with us?"

Sero gives a grin from behind Kaminari, and Kirishima perks up at the offer. "Yeah, why don't you come with us, man? It'll be fun!"

Bakugou's eyes narrow. "And why the hell would I?"

"Because we're all bros, man! Right?"

The redhead slings his arm around the blonde and nudges him in a freakishly friendly manner. Both Sero and Kaminari join in unison with the offer.

"There'll be games you can compete in. You too scared of a couple party games?" Sero mocks.

Like black magic, Bakugou's gears are rolling and he's glaring Sero down to the core, "The hell did you say?! I'll win every one of those goddamn things!"

"That's the spirit! And hey, thanks for letting us crash at your place."

"Screw all of you."

…Summer Festival, huh…?

Bakugou's been to that a few times… everyone would just walk off with their own partner and leave Bakugou to suffer with Kirishima and Ashido. Kaminari would waltz off with Jirou, while Sero would wait in place for a girl named Tokage Setsuna. Bakugou recalls seeing her a few times during high school, but never thought much of her.

…

He's been through worse. A fucking carnival can't bring him down. He can do it. If he can march through surgery in multiple areas, he can make it through a bunch of people holding hands like it's fucking mating season.

Because, as said before, he doesn't need to be infected.

Really, he doesn't.

He really, seriously doesn't.

He doesn't.

…

…

(He does.)