Katsuki Bakugou was rarely ever impressed. In fact, he doesn't remember the last time he met someone worth taking a glance from.
Except, of course for All Might, the strongest hero alive. And maybe a few other heroes as well.
But to anyone else? No. He was not one to gawk at anyone with a quirk, that's more like Deku. The people who can actually gain his attention are almost slim to none.
Even now as he stood at the Practice Center A for UA's entrance exam- zero. Even Present Mic, the one who hosted the test wasn't at all great for him. Tch. Boring.
Seeing a lot of people with varieties of quirks in the arena, not one looked note-worthy.
All of them are weak.
Useless.
Trash.
He smirked as the bell rang, commencing the start of the practical exam. "I'll crush them all."
As soon as the large doors opened, Bakugou flew wildly in the center of the arena. He hoisted himself in a fast paces, hitting and beating down bots after bots. Not minding a single person in the arena.
50 points. He took note of his kills.
When he finished off the enemies in the area he's in, he looked around for more. More. I need to destroy more.
He stood on top of the tallest building, looking for another robot to decimate.
Tsk, where are those 3-points-worth villains.
His eyes scanned the surrounding. It was then, two large robots 100 meters away from him began to move. Hard level robots, it's a combo, he smirked. Mine!
Igniting his palms, he blasted himself towards them.
"DIE!"
Before he could smash them to bits, vines had suddenly surrounded his target in several parts then effectively pulling apart the two bots at the same time.
He stopped midair, "Shit!"
Landing himself abruptly on the floor, he turned to look at that thief.
"What the hell?!"
It was a girl. A weird one at that.
Vines for her hair, and with an unusual choice of clothing. She was wearing a plain dress that flowed down to her knees and brown ankle-length boots.
She swiftly dodges some falling debris from the robot that she destroyed.
His face crumpled in confusion as several questions popped in his head.
The fuck is this, a church service?
She went to a physical activity wearing that?
How could she even move in her stupid clothes?
Weird ass bitch!
He stared at her as she moved her vines towards a person, the vines encircling the person and pulling him from being crushed by her defeated villain bots.
Easily attacking villain bots, all while rescuing someone.
He broke apart from his thoughts and screamed at her. "Oi! That was my kill!"
She turned to look at him, her eyebrows curved upward, baffled. "Oh. I have not seen you chasing it." A soft-spoken but unexpectedly a firm voice came out of her mouth.
Her eyes then turned to look into the distance behind him.
She DOES NOT look sorry. Tsk . Stumping, he went closer to her, "Shut up! Just don't get in my-"
Vines flew past him, as she crushed a small robot- an easy level robot going behind his back. "..way."
Strong quirk! The words unconsciously emerged out from the back of his head. What the fuck. Did I just praise her?
She stared at him blankly, as if hesitating on whether to speak. Instead of engaging with him she turned away, looking around trying to find more bots.
Blatantly ignoring him.
THIS BITCH!
"I'm talking to you vinehead! Don't mess with my points!"
She faced him yet again and spoke this time. "This is no time to argue." She pointed at her wrist motioning that they are in a hurry.
"You-!"
She stepped away from him to chase another easy villain bot.
My kills! He let out a guttural sound of anger.
For the first time he actually stopped his mouth from retorting. "GAH!" That point grabber! Kill stealer ass! Whatever!
He growled as he threw himself to the closest robot. "DIE!"
I've wasted my precious seconds. That vinehead distracted me!
Hit after hit after hit. Die! Die! Die!
He continued rampaging on the bots, until he saw her again, vines chasing down a villain bot. Heh. Time for some payback
He jumped up high towards her direction and without consideration he bombed at the villain bot she was going after.
"Ugh!" She yelped as she got blasted by his quirk. Though not directed at her, the wave of the explosion was enough to send her down the hard floor ungracefully.
She turned to glare at him as he stared down at her.
If looks could kill, well, they'd both be dead. It's almost as if there was electricity zapping from their eyes.
It was the vinehead girl who conceded. She inhaled deeply, as if trying to calm herself.
Dusting her dirty cream colored dress, she stood up. "How cruel of you."
"Doesn't feel great right? For someone to steal your points?" He mocked her.
"Steal your points? I have done nothing of the sort."
He snickered, "Now you're denying it, huh?"
"But I really did not steal them from you."
"WELL YOU DID!" Atleast, that's what it felt like!
A brief pause.
"Are you that at loss for those points?"
"ME, AT LOSS!?" He can't believe what he's hearing.
"Then, I'm sorry for unintentionally stealing them."
His nose flared as he yelled at her. "I DON'T NEED YOUR FUCKING APOLOGY AND I'M DEFINITELY NOT AT LOSS HERE!"
Without flinching, she answered, "Then why are you mad?"
BECAUSE YOU-!
BECAUSE…
You're…
Huh. Why am I mad at her again?
She didn't see him aiming for it. She didn't intentionally steal it from him. And she was just answering him calmly.
So why in the world is he flustered?
At the back of his mind...
Maybe because he inadvertently recognized her strength as a quirk user.
Which NEVER really happens. This is definitely the first.
And, well, she WAS the only one on that examination center that actually kept up with the kills, albeit not even half as fast as him but better than the rest.
Taking down bots and helping others who had trouble with fighting weak ass bots, all while wearing those ridiculous looking clothes.
Damn!
Was he really that observing?
I was not observing that vinehead. I just crossed paths with her the most because of her long range quirk.
Was he, by chance, intimidated by her strength?
Definitely fucking not. Cross that one out.
Impressed?
What. No. No way in hell.
What was the reason for his anger?
I just don't want anyone to keep up with me that's why!
But he wouldn't want her to think that he thinks she stands a chance against him.
Ugh . His internal dialogue pisses him off.
So Bakugou will just do what he usually does.
To insult.
"Because you're so fucking weird, that's why!"
"..."
Her expression darkened.
She breathed in deeply and spoke. "I do hope you'd be forgiven of your wrath and judgemental nature."
"What did you say!?"
With that, she turned away and left him to search for more villain bots.
"Oi!"
Shiozaki Ibara was rarely ever provoked. And not once in her entire life had she met someone so extremely rude.
The moment that spiky blond hair guy spoke, it struck her that he was someone who she should avoid at all costs.
Even his quirk matches his temperament.
Currently, she was having a mental struggle about the said guy who literally blasted his quirk so close to her face.
Unbelievable.
He bombed me! Really bomb me!
Breathe in. Breathe out. She tried to impede the negative emotions she was feeling at the moment. Patience, Ibara it's times like these that your faith will be tested.
They had engaged in a rather heated conversation which Shiozaki was displeased about. Then something he said, almost broke her calm demeanor.
"Because you're so fucking weird, that's why!"
Di-did he just tell me he's mad because I was weird? Why am I weird?
She glared at him. Lord, PLEASE help me not to strangle this person. I even apologize for a sin I have not committed!
Again. Breathe in, breathe out.
Nothing good will come out if I stoop down to his anger.
Yes, right. I'll do what Jesus would do.
Lower down my pride and pray for his soul.
"I do hope you'd be forgiven of your wrath and judgemental nature."
"What did you just say!?"
That's about enough. She thought as she turned away.
"Oi!"
Just ignore him, lest I sin. Shiozaki thought.
It was then, bots had piled up in their area. Their little argument had made them ignorant of their surroundings.
Shiozaki was the first one to make the move. Series of vines had entangled a few bots in their vicinity.
Not wanting to be left out, Bakugou blasted the nearest ones as well. Then, seeing her vines coming towards some bots, he decided to play dirty. He bombed her targets.
"Hey!" She turned at him with a displeased expression. That was definitely intentional.
He gave a gloating smile. "Just taking back my points."
She gnawed at her lips and decided to return the favor. She took down a bot near him. "Careful, now."
"Tsk." Bakugou, blasted himself up, throwing himself to the next biggest bot and bombed away its head with the biggest explosion he had within the whole day.
It was an arena trap bot or in other words, 0-point villain and guess what? He didn't care.
That vinehead girl covered her eyes with the back of her hands from the effect of his explosion. "Heh." He looked at her as he returned to the ground, obnoxiously challenging her. "Why, can't keep up?"
And thus it began, the competition of taking down bots.
From afar, it looked as if they were cooperating on destroying bots for teamwork. But in actual fact, the both of the examinees were outdoing each other, almost as if showing off.
This scene is quite weird for the both of them.
It was slow-paced compared to what Bakugou was doing initially.
Flying fast and exploding every villain bots in sight like a maniac. Unlike this one. He was taking his time to flaunt his talent.
He could just leave her and then rampage for points but he continued in their little game. He wanted to win this one and humiliate that vinehead girl. I wouldn't back down on a fucking challenge after what that bitch did.
In contrast, this was quite fast paced for Shiozaki.
Yeah, she took down bots at the start but instead of focusing on her points, she shifted her energy on helping other people who had trouble in the exams.
She could have just ignored him but somehow, she wanted to continue in the game. She was unusually agitated and felt like she needed to win this one. I wouldn't back down on an opportunity after what that demon said.
After a few minutes, the bell rings. They were both exhausted, not enough energy to bicker anymore.
Shiozaki sighed a relief. "Thank God." I'm drained.
Bakugou on the other hand, turned to her, "Oi, this is MY win." His fingers pointing to himself. "MY WIN, GOT THAT?" He said in a firm voice, as he glared at her making sure she understands.
He waited a while for a meek voice to agree with him, or even just a nod, but none. She just stared after him, eyes uninterested.
TCH! He started to walk away. "Hmph, that should teach her."
She didn't argue anymore knowing clearly, that guy was stronger than her, instead her eyes followed his retreating figure.
Honestly, she didn't want to have any bad blood with anyone, even this person. A tiny part of her wanted to make amends...
But she lets him be. God bless his soul, but… She held her hands together, "I pray that this will be the first and last encounter I will have with that person."
The moment she turned away, he glanced back at her direction.
Tch. That girl. Didn't even admit I'm better. "I fucking wish, I'll never have to see that her again."
As soon as the buses from different practice arenas returned to the main gates of UA, it bustled with tired examinees.
As Bakugou Katsuki exits, he recalled how many robot villains he destroyed and thought his' are definitely the best score. "I am literally the fucking best one in here."
Bakugou frowned at the number of people blocking the way, when he caught sight of that green haired girl.
He has never turned his head around just for anyone. He was never impressed. NO.
She didn't catch his attention. It's more like, she just pissed him off.
I praised her and then , She had ignored me while I was talking to her, AND she didn't admit I'm stronger to add fuel to the fire! That vine haired weirdo doesn't know I can beat her easily!
Even with that though, at the back of his mind, I wouldn't be surprised if she passed.
He brushes off the girl in his head. "Doesn't matter." He huffed. All of them are nothing compared to me.
Bakugou turned at the facade of the UA, eyes full of determination.
I'll definitely pass the examination with flying colors.
I'll definitely be the top student in this Academy.
And I'll DEFINITELY be the number 1 hero.
Just wait and see.
Shiozaki in the opposite, felt surprisingly refreshed. "I think I did well for the exam."
Somehow, within their competition, Shiozaki felt a little… riled up. Excited even.
The exhilaration of winning. Giving all her best. In the deepest part of her soul, she wanted to win against that guy.
The guy that bombed me, cursed me and called me weird. Foul-mouth guy!
But it lingered in her brain, that guy was talented and great with his quirk. With skills like that? He'll pass! She shook her head quite hard. "I hope not!"
She clasped her mouth. No, no, no I shouldn't wish that for someone! But I hope he studies somewhere else.
Standing at the gates, she looked at the school in awe. Quietly, she muttered a prayer.
Please let me pass the test. I hope I am deserving enough.
To help others in the way I can is my lifelong dream.
I want to be a great hero.
I'll do my best!
They were vastly different. Their personalities clash. And their temperaments are most different from each other.
He is foul-mouthed and she is soft spoken. He is aggressive and she is calm. He doesn't give a shit about what other people think, and she cares a lot about what other people feel.
Definitely polar opposites.
But perhaps if you look past those differences, they are actually similar in some ways. Subtle ways.
