Chapter 35

Bakugo slouched next to the classroom door, hands in pockets and a scowl on his face, daring anyone passing by to try him. The heroes-in-training had been released for lunch and Uraraka and Bakugo had already decided that they would spend this one together, so Bakugo waited. They didn't always hang out at lunch, choosing to spend it with their friends instead, but today was a little different. Today was the day second-year internships were to be announced.

Two weeks had passed since their first date and by now the entirety of the school knew about them. All he kept hearing down the hallways was how they were a "thing."

What did that even mean?

It seriously pissed him off how everyone had an opinion. How was this anyone else's business?! It wasn't...but that didn't stop the staring, the pointing, or the out front questions - "Why is someone so nice dating someone like him?"

That seemed to be on everyone's mind.

If he was being completely honest, it was also on his mind. It bothered him more than it probably should have. What if Uraraka changed her mind? She was too nice to be with someone like him.

Tch.

"Uraraka said she'd be out in a minute." Deku's overly-chirpy voice catapulted him back to the present. It was unsettling how "okay" Deku was with all of this. Actually, he was more than okay. Deku seemed genuinely happy about it.

Bakugo wasn't sure why but kind of pissed him off.

"No one asked you, dumbass." Bakugo spat, refusing to look at him as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Uraraka-san asked me to tell you." Deku responded, his optimism not at all affected by Bakugo's sour attitude. Bakugo was preparing to say sometime hostile but the nerd and his pack had already left.

He knew that Uraraka was still friends with Deku and he wasn't going to be one of those chumps that told her what to do or who to be friends with...but it did annoy the living shit out of him. Just a little bit. The last person he wanted involved in his personal life was that damn green-haired nerd. Less even, when that same person just happened to be his girlfriend's former crush.

He hadn't brought that up to Uraraka though. The first and last time he ever mentioned it was that one time in his room and he wasn't planning on doing so either. Frankly, he didn't want to know anything about Uraraka and Deku. He wasn't sure how he'd react and he'd rather not risk a fight.

For better or for worse, things with Deku had been - calm? At the very least, neutral and he really didn't have the time to invest in him. All-Might already had him spending most of his free evenings training with the nerd. Hadn't he already paid his dues? The little free time he did have he'd much rather spend it with...

"Howdy!" Uraraka's peppy voice and warm smile instantly erased the bad taste the brief interaction with Deku had left in his mouth. It was alarming how her mere presence could affect him to that degree. He wasn't sure how to react.

"What took you so long?" He asked gruffly, taking her hand as they joined the rest of the students and headed towards the lunch room.

"I'll tell you later." She said quickly. Too quickly. Bakugo looked at her from the corner of his eyes and was surprised to find her blushing.

Weird.

Dating was weird.

Were they dating? They had gone on one date...did that count? He hadn't corrected Kaminari when he called Uraraka his girlfriend but Bakugo hadn't actually asked her if she wanted to be his girlfriend. Was he supposed to ask?

Everything was still a little unclear for her. She had all these lingering questions but unfortunately not much time to ask them. Uraraka knew Bakugo was a guy of little words but it was starting to frustrate her a bit.

If she was being completely honest, she probably wouldn't have minded it as much if not for the constant pecking from the rest of the female student body.

Bakugo. The rude and angry celebrity of U.A., whether he wanted to be one or not. Everyone knew about him. He was intimidating as all hell, but still more than one girl and a couple of guys would give everything they owned to be looked at by him. To be desired by him. The worst part was Bakugo seemed unaware of the effect he had on people. At least, this particular effect.

No one ever saw this coming. And now that it was established that Bakugo did in fact have room in his life for something other than becoming the number one hero it became an all out war among some of Uraraka's schoolmates. They wanted him and now that they knew he wasn't impervious to feelings and attraction they made no qualms of demonstrating it either.

"So," they would start, eyes gleaming with anticipation. "How did he ask you to be his girlfriend?" More than one girl would look at her with thinly veiled disdain, surely thinking how someone like her could have ended up with someone like him.

Uraraka would smile politely and say, "He hasn't actually asked me," and then observe as they would become inflated with confidence at the idea that Bakugo was still available. Typical follow-ups included the thinly-contained gleeful "Oh, so you guys aren't like an official thing then?" and the occasional sneered "Makes sense, I can't see Bakugo as the boyfriend-type."

Each made precious, sweet, little Uraraka Ochako, want to float them away into outer space never to be seen again. Mina and Hagakure had told her to lie and come up with a story. Jirou told her to tell them to shove it. Tsu and Momo told her to ignore them. Deku suggested talking to Bakugo about it. Thankfully, someone from class 1-A was always close enough to help her out before things got murderous.

Still, she'd take dealing with jealous teenage girls over having to constantly being looked at like a victim. This came mostly from the male population in school, and one or two staff members. The amount of times random guys who she had never met would ask her if she was okay and if she wanted them to talk to Bakugo for her was getting ridiculous. Especially because Uraraka knew Bakugo would wipe the floor with them.

She had never done this before.

They had never done this before.

It was bad enough that their first date was a grim reminder that the life of a hero was not exactly conducive towards dating but Uraraka hadn't really put much thought into what dating Bakugo Katsuki would actually entail. His reputation preceded him and though she and most of her class knew most of the rumors about him were false, they persisted. It didn't help that Bakugo remained as uncouth as ever, but that didn't make him a villain.

She had not been prepared for the jealous girls or to be painted out as some damsel-in-distress.

She had passed the entrance exams for the #1 ranked high school for heroics and the top Hero Academy in all Japan. Did they think she did that by chance?

Uraraka wasn't sure what made her more upset - the fact that people who knew next to nothing about Bakugo kept making all of these assumptions about him or the fact that everyone thought her weak.

Maybe she should talk to Bakugo about some of this.

Internships were being announced later in the evening and everyone was a little on edge. Actually, everyone was a lotta on edge. These internships counted a lot...most students would probably end up at the agency they interned during their second year. Everyone wanted to be placed somewhere reputable...somewhere where their quirks and hero abilities could shine. Uraraka was no exception. Bakugo even less. Today was about de-stressing and trying to ignore the fact that this time tomorrow most of their future careers would be decided.

No, she wouldn't bring it up today. And she definitely wouldn't bring it up tonight.

She had big plans for tonight.

The weight of what she had asked Mina to acquire for her before meeting up with Bakugo was finally settling in. A small flush decorated her cheeks and she tried to calm herself before the blonde standing next to her noticed.

If everything went according to plan, they wouldn't be doing much talking tonight anyhow.

AN: Thank you to those that have been here from the beginning and to those who have found it and favorited it :) I really appreciate it. And to the weird Anon who keeps leaving really aggressive and rude "reviews,"...why? It's as simple as not clicking on this story and reading it. Anyway, hope you all enjoy the update.