Momo wasn't one for frivolous gossip, not like the other girls in the class. Her mother had raised her to be conscious of the world around her but not to go sticking her nose in it. But this...this was something she just had to look into.
She had been attending a party with her parents for a fundraiser. She wasn't too keen on going, but her parents were very insistent. Apparently some big shot and his son were going to be there and her parents practically demanded she meets them. They were clearly trying to find her a rich boyfriend, not that she didn't appreciate the effort, but she absolutely didn't. Half of the guys they introduced to her were far too many years her senior or snooty and uptight. There was also the fact that she was probably a lesbian.
After speaking with the boy her parents introduced to her, she found he was in fact 3 years her senior-and most certainly gay. They talked for a bit to keep up appearances but about halfway through her aunt came and dragged her away. Momo had hoped to stay with Tsuiichi but her aunt was very insistent. Her aunt hauled her towards her mother and pulled out her phone. She seemed way too excited for whatever was on her phone.
"Ayako have you seen this?" Her aunt shoved her phone in her sister's face. Ayako raised an eyebrow before giving out a faint gasp.
"That's Mitsuki's boy isn't it?" Ayako looked thoughtful for a second before realization struck.
"That's the Sports Festival winner. I forgot Mitsuki's boy was even in UA." Ayako looked pensive before turning and looking at her daughter.
"Momo dear what do you think about Bakugou Katsuki" Ayako looked at her daughter expectantly. Now, this got Momo's attention. Whatever was on that phone somehow related to her elusive classmate. She knew what her mother was doing. All her mother wanted was to set her up with a rich boy to keep the family name 'secure.' Honestly, it was becoming rather tiring at this point.
Momo's mother was an unusual woman, also has been and always will be. A tall woman with sharp features, unlike her daughter's soft ones. Born into a high-class family and married into an even richer one. Yaoyorozu Ayako acted like she owned the place but seemed terribly frightened of losing it too. A conflicting woman, but she genuinely loved her daughter and wanted the best for her. This was why she tried so hard to get Momo a boyfriend or even an eventual husband. And Momo knew that was exactly what was going on here.
But Momo was conflicted, on one hand, she was very curious to see what had riled her aunt up so much that seemed to relate to her elusive classmate, but on the other, she really didn't want to play her mother's matchmaking game. However, if she denied knowing much about him her mother would likely drop it and she'd never see what was on the phone unless she asked her aunt. But Yaoyorozu Ami was a very spacey woman and would probably forget all about it once the subject dropped.
Curiosity won in the end, but Momo felt slightly guilty about lying to her mother. She'd never been very good at it either.
"He's an interesting character, intelligent, talented, determined." She was cut off before she could finish.
"Attractive?" Her mother pushed on. She was really reaching for her matchmaking game tonight.
Momo felt strange answering, but it wasn't a lie, so she did.
"He's- yes I'd say so?" Momo looked up at her mother who seemed lost in thought.
"Ami, show her the video." Momo fidgeted with her fingers behind her back. She was curious and very confused. How the video related to Bakugou and how good of a husband he could be was a mystery to Momo.
Her aunt passed her phone over to Momo along with a set of earbuds. Ah, so a video then. The screen didn't show much of a thumbnail, but the title read "Bakugou Katsuki, Operatic Tenor Extraordinaire sings 'Che Gelida Manina.' from 'La Boheme,' Age 12." It was posted three years ago, but honestly, she wouldn't have noticed the slightly softer look on the boy. She was too confused by the title.
Bakugou? Bakugou was an opera singer? And a popular one at that based on the view count. Momo was definitely intrigued now. How this pushed her mother into a matchmaking frenzy, she had no idea.
She placed the earbuds in her ears and with a slight shake of her hand pressed 'play.' She was immediately swallowed by the music. His voice was a smooth tenor with an upward tilt in the higher register. His voice rang out in her ears like a dove serenading Athena. It was sweet but robust, and yet remorseful in some ways. She'd never heard this song before or even knew that Bakugou could sing, let alone do that. She wasn't convinced that not even the god of song could do that.
She returned home that night in a stupor unable to process what she's just heard. Her Mind was having trouble associating the Bakugou she knew and the voice she'd just heard. It truly startled her how much a video could affect her in such a way.
During her remaining break, Momo researched Bakugou and found several more videos like the one her aunt had shown her. She made a playlist dedicated to him, which was maybe a little weird but she was sure it would be filled with other arias too. It had become a bit of a thing now. She had never been into opera or any classical music, but after seeing what Bakugou was capable of, she couldn't help it. Each time she discovered something from him it was like hearing the ocean for the first time again and again. She even found some where he sang as a soprano, it was incredible. From a bull to a feather, each song was different but all undeniably him.
The constant reminder of Bakugou's voice in class baffled her. The way he spoke was so different from the music he made. He was gruff and aggressive in ways the music simply wasn't.
Monday morning Momo decided to get to class even earlier than normal to catch Bakugou, possibly alone. He was always the first in class, a fact that seemed to astound Iida. It wasn't much of a change, to be honest. She woke up early and was one of the first to class, although most arrived in groups now that the dormitories were open.
Her hands had a slight shake to them as she walked to class. Her mind was racing. Should she talk to him? Would he blow up in her face if she did? Was it worth it? What would she even say- Hey I saw you on Youtube and you got me addicted to your voice? That would be weird. She wasn't even into him!
The mountain of a door that stood between her and the classroom seemed like an impossible barrier to cross. But she shook off her nerves and pushed forward.
Bakugou was indeed already in class. Headphones on and a book in hand seemingly unaware that Momo had even entered the room. Hesitantly she moved forward until she stood near enough that she could knock on his desk. She'd caught on to the hearing loss ages ago and didn't want to startle him.
Momo rapped on the desk loud enough to grab his attention but light enough to not seem aggressive or to frighten him. He glanced down at the hand and then up and Momo. He removed his headphones but made no move to speak.
Momo hadn't really thought this far. His half blank stare made her palms sweat.
"I- I found you on Youtube the other day. And um, well, You were amazing. I've never been one for opera, though I suppose I just never found the right artist." Her hands fidgeted behind her back as she waited for a response. The realization on his face startled Momo, and she flinched backward. Bakugou's face lit up bright red.
"D-don't you fucking dare tell anyone Ponytail bitch Iswear to god I'll-" Momo cut him off from his bluster. She shook her hands out in front of her, signaling Bakugou to stop.
"No-no I'm not going to say anything. I just- I just wanted to tell you that I think you have an incredible voice. And to thank you for inadvertently helping me discover something so amazing!" She gave him a confident smile.
"My parents used to make me take singing lessons and I never enjoyed them, but I think-I think maybe I'd like to try again! So thank you Bakugou for helping me find something I might really enjoy doing!"
Bakugou sputtered out and sparked from his palms. Clearly embarrassed and ready to blow up. But before he could respond to her heart-felt confession the door opened with Iida enthusiastically yelling out a 'Good Morning!' Momo walked to her seat and gave a greeting in return to Iida.
She hadn't been expecting to be so forthcoming with her classmate, but it seemed to please him even if he looked a bit like a constipated gorilla. She felt her cheeks heat up as the realization of what she had just done hit her.
On the other side of the class, Bakugou sat in utter embarrassment. The tips of his ears were a rosy red but despite the ugly scowl on his face, he was happy. Most- most people never praised him on anything other than his quirk. It-it was nice to hear something other than 'Wow what an amazing quirk you have!' Not that he didn't, he knew he did, but sometimes it was nice to hear he had other talents than being predispositioned to take down villains. Fucking Ponytail and her stupid ass smile.