Uraraka hurriedly walked across the salted university square in her furry boots and into the expansive, open-plan university library. Warming her hands with a puff of hot air, she scanned the floors for a mop of familiar green hair.
It was hard to tell, but it looked like the guy on the second floor whispering into his phone with a panicked face might be Deku. Before she could get closer to investigate, he met eyes with her and hung up the call.
"Uraraka! Over here!" Deku waved wildly, standing from his seat in the study section of the library. The surrounding people all glared and shushed him, making him shrink down with what was sure to be a squeaky "Sorry!"
Uraraka giggled into her hand and made her way up the stairs and over to his table where he had an open seat saved across from him. The study hall was always packed on the weekends, so it was a relief he was able to snag a couple of spots at all.
"Oops?" He whispered to her once she got close, freckles popping out against the redness of his flustered blush.
"It's alright, they'll get over it." She waved her hand at him reassuringly and sunk into the cushioned chair. "Thank you for agreeing to tutor me."
"Of course! Are you ready to get started?" He pulled out a stack of notes from his bag, taking note of the concerned look on Uraraka's face. "We won't be covering all of this today, I promise." He laughed nervously, knowing all too well that he was slightly obsessive when it came to note taking.
"Oh, no, that's not why." She wrung her hands in front of her nervously. "I've actually, umm, been thinking about dropping the math classes next quarter."
He looked at her quizzically. "Why? Is there something wrong?" As soon as the question left his mouth, shock took over his face. He waved his hands in front of him wildly as he went off on a tangent. "Not that it's any of my business! I mean, we hardly know each other and I'm not entitled to know. As a friend, I hope we're friends, I'm concerned and would like to help if I can, but if it's personal and you'd rather not share, that's ok too. But if you do want a person to talk to, I can be that person. Unless you have other friends to lean on and it's uncomfortable to talk to me. If that's the case, I don't mind-"
"It's ok!" She cut him off abruptly, realizing he would go on until he used up all the oxygen in the room if she were let him. "I haven't talked to the counselor yet, but I've been considering changing majors. I just wanted to warn you, in case this isn't a long term thing."
"Oh." He replied, disappointment clear in his face.
"I'll still pay you for your time!" She added hastily, hoping she hadn't ruined plans for him. "You must have a lot of other people to help."
"Don't worry about that! I just…" He stared down at his lap before squaring his shoulders and looking straight into her eyes with resolve. "I was hoping to spend more time with you."
"You were? Why?" A funny feeling stirred in her chest, something akin to dread.
"You-you seem like a fun person. And really nice. And… pretty." He squirmed in his seat, clearly inexperienced in interacting with girls, especially one he was interested in. It was kind of endearing. "Even if we don't meet up to study, do you think… you'd want to go out with me sometime?"
It was completely unexpected, though not entirely unwelcome. Deku was so sweet and even without knowing him well, Uraraka could tell he'd make a thoughtful boyfriend. And it wasn't like he was proposing, he just wanted the chance to get to know her better.
But then why did she feel so uneasy, wishing it were someone else asking her?
It wasn't like Bakugo had shown an ounce of interest in her romantically. He was so forthright and blunt, there was no way he wouldn't just go for what he wanted, which meant she wasn't on that list. He wasn't particularly charming or agreeable and she basically told him he had no business prying about her family life the other day.
So why was she still holding out for him?
Why was she hoping that he might notice her in a different light other than the ditzy cafe employee who he occasionally bantered with and pushed to live a bigger, grander life? Ah. That was probably why.
Well, it was obvious that she couldn't say yes to Deku. For all the ways Bakugo might not reciprocate her feelings, she had also learned from him to be unapologetically honest with herself and others. "I'm flattered, thank you, but-" She started to explain.
"It's ok." Deku cut her off swiftly, nodding furiously to try and assure her. He could tell from the moment he asked that it wouldn't have done any good. "You don't have to finish saying all that."
Still, she pressed on. "You are so considerate, really. And seriously so nice and a great person. But... I think there's someone else I'm interested in and it wouldn't be fair to you for me to say yes. I'm sorry."
"I-I get it." He rubbed his arms protectively. "I'm sorry if I made things awkward."
"No, no." She shook her hands in front of her, trying to convey the message that it truly wasn't a bother at all. "And I would love to keep working with you in school and as a friend, if that'd be ok." She winced at how cheesy it sounded, but Deku seemed to take it in stride.
"I would like that." He smiled brightly. "And I really mean it, no hard feelings."
She smiled at him appreciatively. It was only recently that she started making new friends and she didn't want to drive one away already.
Deku chewed on his bottom lip, contemplating whether he should say something or keep it to himself. After a moment of silent turmoil, he cautiously implored, "If you don't mind me asking… Is it Kacchan?"
"Wh-what?" She sputtered out.
"The person you're interested in. Do you like Kacchan?"
She went speechless. Was it obvious? Was she ready to admit it outloud?
But her silence was enough confirmation for her abnormally astute peer.
"I'm sorry for prying. It's just… I should've seen it earlier. He seriously talks about you all the time. It's always round-face this, round-face that." He chuckled to himself. "I wouldn't be surprised if the city's whole fire department could pick you out in a crowd."
"Oh." She squeaked out, suddenly feeling the need to fan her face from the implication. This was the second time she was hearing from one of Bakugo's friends that he talked about her outside of the cafe. And apparently, it was more than a socially acceptable amount.
"He's a prickly one, but he really is a good guy if you're patient enough to stick around." Deku advised her genuinely. "I hope things work out for you two."
"Thanks…" She felt a rush of relief course through her to know there was someone else on her side other than Tsuyu, someone who probably knew Bakugo best out of anyone.
"Me too."
Uraraka returned to work that week feeling lighter and more hopeful than she had in years.
Her parents were in the process of packing up and arranging things for the move coming up in February. It was decided that she would stay in the same apartment complex, just in a smaller studio room rather than the 2-bedroom they had been residing in for the last 18 years.
She also had an appointment with the counselor in a couple of days on Thursday to go over her options for switching classes so she wouldn't be stuck with those math classes anymore. She was thinking of trying different electives to get a good feel for what she'd like to do next.
It was like her life was finally all falling into place.
Most importantly, she was determined to ask Bakugo out on a date the next time she saw him. Hopefully, that'd be today. Oddly enough, he didn't show yesterday, but Mondays after a holiday were weird and she didn't hold it against him.
There was also that whole disastrous conversation when she walked out on him so she couldn't really blame him for not showing up like normal. Maybe she should plan on apologizing first and then waiting a few days to ask him out?
And just like she had hoped, his black SUV pulled into the parking lot and he stepped out with that spiky blonde hair and hands shoved into his pockets. Uraraka urged Tsuyu to get the dark roast going so she could have it out and ready by the time their transaction was finished.
"He's coming!"
"I got it, Ochako. Don't worry." Tsuyu smiled softly at her giggling friend.
Uraraka composed herself quickly before turning around to greet him, palpable excitement coursing through her at the ringing of the door. "Hey! I- oh."
Her voice faltered and died out instantaneously.
Wrapped around Bakugo's arm was a tall, blonde bombshell with plump pink lips and long lashes that framed her amber eyes. She looked impeccable, from her fitted leather jacket to the leopard print ankle boots at the end of her long, long legs. Her hair was a deeper yellow than Bakugo's, running down in shiny, golden waves down her shoulder and back.
Bakugo didn't look particularly happy to have her hanging off of him, but he definitely didn't make a move to shake her off, either. They looked so good together.
The sight of them together made Uraraka's heart shrivel up to the size of a raisin, leaving her chest feeling hollow.
"Hi! You must be Uraraka." The woman approached the register and leaned forward with a cat-like grin on her face. Her tall and slender frame made Uraraka feel even stockier and disproportionate than normal.
"Ummm. Yes. H-how did you know?" She wanted to shrink down and hide under the counter for the rest of the week. Or until she, you know, died.
"Oh, Katsu talks about this place all the time. I finally finagled him into bringing me and buying me a coffee. Isn't he sweet?" The woman smiled up at him while pinching his cheek. He quickly swatted her away with his signature scowl, but she didn't seem bothered by his reaction, only laughing lightheartedly.
The sound made her stomach churn violently.
Katsu? If he were that comfortable with a woman, using nicknames and linking arms, they must be together. Even more, he never brought anyone else in, not even Kirishima, which must mean they were serious.
It looked like she wouldn't be asking him out after all.
"What would you like?" Uraraka finally croaked out through her dry mouth.
"Hmmm." The woman lifted a perfectly manicured finger up to her glossy, pouty lips. "What do you usually get, Katsu?"
Uraraka tried to act normal, shaking the pepper powder into his already prepared coffee as always. But she paused before adding in the last shake. Should she be doing this in front of his girlfriend? Would it be worse to not do it, implying it was something special between the two of them?
Gulping back the acid climbing up her esophagus, she added in the last bit and shut the lid with a snap. She slid the cup across the counter towards Bakugo with a shaking hand that she snatched back swiftly.
"Dark roast with cayenne." She said just above a whisper.
"That sounds just like you." The bombshell laughed with a hand splayed across his chest. "I'll get a flat white. The name's Camie."
Camie. Uraraka punched in the order and wrote the name obediently, trying her hardest not to cry.
"Thanks, hun." She unclasped her sleek nude-colored wallet and pulled out a card to pay. "I heard you've been hanging out with Katsu's crowd."
Oh no. Was she the jealous type?
Because it'd be one thing to find out Bakugo had a girlfriend on the same day she meant to ask him out, it would be another to stir up drama with her. She really didn't need that right now.
"It's so unfair that we haven't gotten to hang out yet!" Camie whined. "We should totes get together this weekend. Maybe, like, on Sunday?" She suggested, completely oblivious to the panic rising in Uraraka's chest.
A whole day? Just the two of them?
Nope.
Nooooooooo, no, no, no. There weren't words to describe how much she hated the idea.
Bakugo ended up answering for her through a grimace. "She's probably busy with Deku." He spat out bitterly.
"Deku?" The sudden mention of him confused Uraraka enough to make her blurt out against her free will, "Why would I be with Deku? No, I'm actually free all weekend." Oh no. Why did she say that? Then she'd be obligated to spend time with Camie!
"I thought he asked you out?" Bakugo furrowed his brows at the mention of his frenemy.
"Umm, yeah, he did. How did you know about that?"
"He wouldn't stop fucking talking about it on Sunday morning to racoon eyes. Rambled on and on about how nervous he was to ask you out." He spat out.
"Oh." That must've been the call she saw Deku hung up on when she got to the library. There was a nagging thought wondering how Bakugo would've heard about it from Mina, but she didn't pay much attention to that. "Well, uh, that just makes me feel worse for saying no." She bit her lip, feeling bad for Deku.
Bakugo's head snapped up at her. "You-you said no?" With wide eyes, he began to crush the cup in his hand, making the lid strain as it fought against popping off.
Uraraka nodded, completing the transaction with Camie while oblivious to his turmoil. "I told him… Well, it doesn't matter what I said."
Not anymore.
"What did you say." He demanded from her, catching her off guard with the intense look of determination in his red eyes. Camie must've noticed the fear of being caught in hers, because she attempted to place a calming hand on Bakugo's shoulder.
"Katsu, let the poor girl be." He shrugged off Camie's hand with a glare, ignoring her effort to calm his growling and keep the poor barista from crying. God, how could she hate this woman now when she was being so kind?
"I… I told him I liked someone else." Uraraka shrugged dejectedly, figuring it was harmless to admit that much. "I'm really sorry, but it looks like there's a line starting to form. Do you mind if…?" She gestured towards the counter to the side where Camie's drink would be ready.
"Not at all!" Camie perked, trying her hardest to keep the mood positive. "But here's my number if you want to do something this weekend. Or any other time!" She scribbled down her phone number on a napkin and handed it to Uraraka. Once she accepted it, forcing herself to hold the loopy, flourished numbers rather than throw it away immediately, Camie dragged Bakugo away from the register, his feet not moving on their own.
Uraraka forced herself to keep her eyes locked forward, refusing to search for any answers in his face. Since when did he have a girlfriend? Had she missed the signs before? Was he trying to tell her to back off? Did she miss her chance with him somehow?
No. They were just friends, if even that. She needed to come back down to reality.
Even if it felt like she was hurtling down from the stratosphere, powerless to stop her freefall.
Tsuyu leaned towards her before starting the next drink in her queue. "I'm so sorry, Ochako." But she didn't respond, just swallowing back the disappointment and waving for the next person in line.
"Hello, sir. What can we get started for you?" Uraraka forced herself to revert back into her carefully measured customer service voice, pushing past the scratching feeling in her throat that indicated that tears were imminent.
And even though it hurt, her eyes still flitted over to the door to watch the blonde couple walk out, arm-in-arm, deep in some fascinating conversation.
Damn it.
Bakugo's girlfriend was both beautiful and nice. How was she supposed to compete with that?
