Pool Day
Chapter Summary
After an interesting preview day, the group decides to spend the next day of the expo at the hotel pool. Get ready for games, shenanigans, and friendship building.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Ochako felt the sunbeam on her face before she fully woke up. She heard the sounds of Bakugou rustling around the room and groggily sat up to see what he was doing.
"What time is it?" Ochako mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"It's just past noon," Bakugou answered curtly.
"Wow, I haven't slept that late in so long." Ochako stretched and hugged herself. "So nice. When did you get up?"
Bakugou glanced at her before going back to packing their backpacks on the bed.
"A few hours ago."
"What are you doing?"
"Iida invited us to a pool day. Figured you would want to go. Was about to wake you up myself. Kinda thought you might be dead but I checked your breathing."
Ochako grinned as she got up, stretching as she walked to stand next to him. She looked inside the bags to see towels, hats, and sunglasses.
"You want to go?" she asked.
"We played the games at the expo yesterday."
"I wanted to do that too." Ochako yawned, still waking up. "But if you're not opposed, I'd love a day at the pool. Gonna kick your butt in pool games."
Bakugou barked with laughter. "As if! Get ready. I'm starving and Iida bought food."
Ochako grinned as she fished her swimsuit out of the dresser and headed to the bathroom to change. Yaomomo had actually made her a new peach-colored bikini when Ochako mentioned how ratty and old her normal, non-school issued swimsuit was. She had said Ochako deserved it but when she put it on, Ochako gasped.
"It's way too booby!" she whispered anxiously. Ochako looked at herself in the mirror and put her hands over chest to cover her cleavage. Apparently, Yaomomo had made the cups the push-up kind. What was she playing at? "Oh no."
Ochako opened the door a crack.
"Pst, Bakugou!" Ochako hissed. Bakugou looked at her like she was crazy. "In the second drawer, there is a sundress. Will you please hand it to me?"
"Why didn't you just bring it in with you!?" Bakugou shouted.
"I didn't expect my suit to look like this!" Ochako rushed.
Bakugou rolled his eyes. "Get it yourself."
"Bakugou, please!"
He groaned as he got up to search for the sundress.
"What's so bad about it anyway? Ponytail usually makes good shit. Don't tell her I said that!" Bakugou said as handed her the sundress through the crack in the door.
"Thank you!" Ochako said, closing the door a little too quickly. She threw the sundress on and surveyed herself in the mirror. It didn't hide much. "And technically nothing is wrong with it. Everyone is gonna stare at me and I hate that."
"Stop obsessing over it. No one's gonna stare. If you don't want the food to be gone by the time we get there, you better hurry," Bakugou said loudly.
Ochako took a deep breath and walked out, feeling very self-conscious. Bakugou was in his swim trunks and a tank top, looking down at his phone while he texted someone.
"Deku is asking to be murdered! He keeps texting me. Packed your phone so let's go."
"Just let me get my sandals on," Ochako whispered as she ran to the closet. She hurriedly put on a jacket, zipped it up, slipped her sandals on, then turned around with an anxious smile.
Bakugou clicked his phone off, threw the backpacks over his shoulder then looked at her like she was ridiculous.
"Uraraka, why the fuck are you wearing that?" Bakugou asked with an exasperated expression. Ochako shrugged hesitantly.
"It's windy?"
Bakugou laughed at the ridiculous statement.
"You gonna swim in that?" Bakugou raised an eyebrow at her.
"I'm going to walk down to the pool in it," Ochako said firmly as she held out her hand to take her bag.
"Whatever. Move out," Bakugou growled as he walked past her without giving her the bag.
They headed down to the pool where all of their friends were sunbathing or getting set up. It was pretty empty as everyone else was at the expo.
Ochako headed straight for Yaomomo who was lounging next to Hagakure.
"Hey, Yaomomo-," Ochako started, about to ask her about the situation she was dealing with, when Yaomomo beamed at her.
"Oh! I'm so excited to see you in your suit, Ochako. I hope it's perfect. Ashido said you like the same style of swimsuit when I made her one so I tried to make it in a similar fashion. Do you like it? Does it fit well?" Yaomomo said, clasping her hands together.
Ochako went pink. Of course Ashido has said that. They both liked thicker strapped bikinis. Ochako didn't have the heart to tell her that Ashido was a lot more confident in her body than Ochako was.
"It's great. Thank you," Ochako squeaked.
"Oh, great! Model for us!" Yaomomo asked.
"Yes please! Show us the goods, Ochako!" Hagakure clapped. Ochako looked around. A family was playing in the shallow end. Bakugou was setting up their stuff next to Todoroki and Deku. Iida and Tsu were setting up lunch. No one was looking at her except the girls in front of her.
"Um, okay," Ochako mumbled before slipping off her jacket. She took the sundress off and bundled the clothes in front of her chest.
"Ow, ow!" Hagakure shouted. "Work it girl!"
"You look amazing, Ochako!" Yaomomo grinned.
"Thanks," Ochako smiled quickly at them before running over to where Bakugou was.
"I heard you just woke up," Todoroki said as she passed him. "Are you already sunburned?"
"No, I'm embarrassed, Todoroki."
"What do you have to be embarrassed about?" Deku asked.
"She doesn't like the swimsuit that Ponytail made her," Bakugou scoffed.
"Why?" Todoroki asked.
"Um," Ochako muttered as she clutched the clothes closer to her. She closed her eyes and grimaced as she dropped the clothes on the chair that Bakugou had set her hat and sunglasses on.
"It's a swimsuit," Todoroki said.
Ochako opened her eyes. Todoroki hadn't changed positions as he lounged in the chair, his arms were still behind his head and sunglasses hid his eyes.
"You don't think it's a little much?" Ochako asked sheepishly.
"Nope!" Deku said too quickly and too loudly.
Bakugou had turned around and was already heading for Tsu and Iida.
"Food better be ready!" He shouted as ran towards them. Ochako couldn't make out what Iida was saying but he was waving his hands like crazy as Bakugou charged.
Deku was fiddling with his fingers as he looked only at Ochako's face.
"As Hagakure said," Todoroki said in his classic monotone voice, pulling his glasses down to give Ochako a knowing look. "Work it girl."
Ochako laughed and Deku relaxed a little bit.
"Still think I'll wear this for now," Ochako said as she put the sundress back on. "You both getting food?"
"Of course. Iida bought it for all of us so it's going to be better than what he's been practicing at school," Todoroki said as he got up from his chair.
"Yeah, remind me never to eat his rice again. Somehow he both undercooks and burns it," Deku said, holding his stomach as if the rice was still there.
Ochako giggled as the three of them went over to the umbrella-covered table Iida had decked out in an array of different foods from the supermarket.
"Is that a new dress, ribbit ?" Tsu asked Ochako as she ate a sandwich.
"Uh, no, new swimsuit from Yaomomo," Ochako said quietly as she grabbed a strawberry and popped it into her mouth.
Bakugou was sitting at the table with a plate full of vegetables, fruit, sandwiches, and chicken. He was focused only on what he was going to eat next.
"It's nice," Tsu said with a smile. Her tone of voice made it clear she knew how Ochako felt about it.
The other girls came over as the rest of them dished up. Ochako sat next to Tsu and Hagakure as they talked about games they could play in the pool.
Yaomomo and Todoroki talked about places they could go together as Deku and Iida talked about the support items they saw at the preview.
Bakugou ate silently as he watched Deku and Iida talk or looked at the passersby.
"I think that's enough. Sharks and Minnows, olympiad of swimming tests, a tournament of chicken, relays, and then lastly Marco Polo," Tsu ticked off the games on her fingers.
"Don't forget the best splash!" Hagakure said excitedly.
"That'll be part of the swimming tests, ribbit ," Tsu grinned. "Does that all sound fun?"
"Sure," Todoroki agreed. Yaomomo nodded.
"A well thought out schedule of events!" Iida exclaimed.
"As long as it's not one right after the other, I'm good," Ochako smiled. "Still want to relax in the sun a bit, you know?"
"Of course, Ochako," Tsu nodded.
"We all need to wait an hour before swimming so why don't we-," Iida started but stopped when Bakugou up, stripped his shirt off, and cannonballed into the deep end of the pool. "Bakugou!"
Bakugou came up for air with a smug grin.
"That's bullshit. I'm ready to kick your asses now. Let's go!" He shouted before he climbed up out of the pool only to do a backflip into the water.
"I mean, we have Tsu, Iida. Even if we do get stomach cramps, we have the best water hero around to save us!" Deku said. He ran to the pool and jumped high into the air before twisting around too quickly for normal people and landing in a pencil dive in the water.
"Lame!" Bakugou shouted as he tackled Deku in the water. They began a splashing war.
"I have to plug my exhaust pipes. The water will ruin the engine. I'll join you in a bit," Iida said as he went over to his bag and pulled out a bag of plugs.
Hagakure and Yaomomo went to the shallow end to ease into the pool while Ochako and Tsu finished their food. Todoroki walked over to the pool and dove in gracefully.
Tsu turned to face Ochako.
"I didn't bring an extra suit, otherwise I'd offer."
"Thank you, Tsu."
"How did-?" Tsu began.
"Ashido mentioned to Yaomomo that we like the same styles," Ochako snapped her bikini strap. "Just a misunderstanding I think."
Tsu raised her eyebrows.
"That's weird. You must have told Yaomomo what you initially wanted."
"I did but I left it vague. Wanted her to have fun with it."
Tsu stood up.
"Well, you do look good. I'm sorry you're uncomfortable. Surprised Midoriya didn't implode when you showed off, ribbit ."
Ochako laughed quietly.
"Let's go swimming," Tsu smiled.
Ochako smiled back, quickly popping another strawberry in her mouth before she threw off her dress and ran at the pool. She used her quirk on herself, jumping very high into the air before releasing and diving into the water. Once she was underwater, she took out her messy bun and shook it out. Ochako needed to smooth out her hair after last night's updo.
When she came up for air, Tsu was jumping into the water next to her.
Water splashed in Ochako's face and for the first time on I-Island, Ochako felt like a normal teenager. She looked at Deku who grinned back at her, thinking the same thing she was.
"Stop grinning at each other and let's see who is the best!" Bakugou screamed. Deku and Ochako laughed.
"Sharks and Minnows first!" Iida said from the table as he was finally plugged and ready to swim. He jumped into the pool and swam toward Ochako.
"Uraraka, you be the shark first," he said.
"Me?" She asked wide-eyed. "Why?"
"Everyone else will play dirty," Iida shrugged. "Your quirk can only be activated if you touch them which means they turn into a shark anyway."
Ochako pursed her lips. She could play dirty if she wanted to.
"Alright, everyone to the side of the pool!" Iida commanded.
Ochako treaded water in the middle.
"Alright, little fishies, come here!" Ochako said loudly, baring her teeth for show.
Deku used full cowling and quickly swam past.
"No leaving the water!" Iida reminded the group as he began to swim toward the other side. Bakugou growled in frustration. He went underwater and pushed off the side of the pool. Even if he held his hands out of the water to let off an explosion while still in the pool, it wouldn't be as effective as just swimming.
Tsu did the same as Bakugou. Ochako heard Hagakure paddling slowly past her to avoid making any water ripples. Ochako couldn't see her since her bikini blended into the water. Yaomomo made herself some fins to put on her feet.
"Don't freeze the pool, Todoroki," Yaomomo reminded him as she dove underwater.
Todoroki took a breath before diving underneath the water with her.
Ochako had 6 people to choose from and went after the person who would hate her the most.
"You're mine, Bakugou!" Ochako shouted and swam toward him. She was about to lurch herself toward him to touch his foot as he sped past her but Ochako ended up running right into Hagakure. Splashing and spluttering filled Ochako's ears as Hagakure went underneath the surface.
"I'm sorry!" Ochako said, trying to find Hagakure in the water.
"It's okay! Just means I get to be a shark," Hagakure laughed as she straightened herself out. Ochako could only tell where she was because of the way the water moved around her. The rest of their peers had reached the other side. "It's time to eat some fish!"
Ochako and Hagakure managed to catch Yaomomo and Iida in the next round but another couple rounds passed before they were able to catch Todoroki. Bakugou was fast even without his quirk and was keeping up with Tsu. Deku was practically impossible to catch.
"Todoroki, Yaomomo, try to get Deku. Iida, Hagakure, you get Tsu. I've got Bakugou," Ochako said, her face determined and fierce.
Bakugou grinned at the challenge.
"In your dreams!" He shouted at her.
"Go!" Iida said. Yaomomo made a net as Todoroki made a small wall of ice to cut off the surface so Deku would either have to go underneath or break through. Hagakure went under water and Iida corralled Tsu in a way that Hagakure could get her. Ochako went to the bottom of the pool and looked up to predict where she'd need to go to catch Bakugou. He was swimming to the other side quickly. She pushed off with all her strength trying to calculate where they would collide. Bakugou was already almost to the other side but Ochako was gaining on him. She reached out and managed to wrap her arms around his chest, flipped him around, and pinned his back to the wall of the pool.
"Ha!" Ochako said underwater, making a bubble come out of her mouth.
Bakugou squirmed underneath her trying to get to the surface. Ochako let him go and swam up for air.
Once she felt the breeze on her skin, Ochako looked around to see who had won but apparently no one had made it to the other side.
"Looks like my dreams came true. Sharks win," Ochako said breathlessly to him.
Bakugou glared at her.
"I'm starting as a shark this time," Bakugou muttered as he swam into the middle. Todoroki was melting his ice wall as Yaomomo unwrapped Deku from her net.
"Good! You are the one who made it the furthest in that last round," Iida said as he swam to the side of the pool.
The rest of the players set up and Bakugou unleashed all his fury in the next few rounds. He seemed to be purposefully avoiding Ochako, going after everyone else even when she was in reach.
At the end of the game it was only her and Deku left.
Ochako glared at Bakugou. Why was he letting her win?
"Everyone after Uraraka," Bakugou said with an evil smile.
Ochako took a steadying breath. This is what he'd been planning.
"What about Midoriya?" Tsu asked.
"Fine, you get him," Bakugou said quickly. "Die, Uraraka!"
Ochako quickly dove and used the side of the pool to go down to the bottom. She looked up and saw everyone coming after her.
Using the floor of the pool, she pushed off toward the opposite side. She was almost there when she felt hands on her ankles.
"Ah!" Ochako shrieked. More bubbles came out of her mouth as she was pulled in the opposite direction.
She turned her head and saw Bakugou. He wasn't done yet. He pinned her to the side like she had with him.
"HA!" Bakugou said loudly underwater.
Ochako rolled her eyes playfully and pointed up to the surface. She needed air.
Bakugou removed his forearm from underneath her neck and they both swam up.
"You could have gotten me so many times before," Ochako said once she caught her breath.
"You deserved to be taken down by my army of sharks after that move you pulled last round," Bakugou explained.
Ochako began to swim to the others in the middle of the pool. Tsu was unwrapping her tongue from around Deku's waist.
"Kinda thought you were letting me win for a moment there. Was going to chew you out for it," Ochako chuckled.
" Psh , never gonna happen," Bakugou said as he swam next to her.
The group decided to do the pool olympiad next. Ochako tried her best at the different games but Deku and Bakugou crushed the competition. The only one she did remotely well on was the best splash after she had jumped really high with her quirk. After a few games, Todoroki and Yaomomo opted out to go get ice cream together. They took everyone's orders and left hand in hand. After many games of it going back and forth between Deku and Bakugou, it all came down to the lap race. The rest of the group decided to back out and let it be the determining factor for who was crowned the Ultimate Pool Olympian.
Deku and Bakugou were in a pre-diving position outside of the pool as Iida stood in the middle to count them down.
"No leaving the water! No roughhousing! Whoever gets back to this end of the pool first will receive the crown!"
"Is there actually a crown?" Hagakure whispered to Ochako. She shook her head.
"Maybe Yaomomo will make one when she gets back."
"Three, two, one, swim!" Iida shouted and the boys dove into the water.
"Don't you dare hold back, Deku!" Bakugou screamed when he resurfaced. Deku activated full cowling and sped toward the shallow end. Bakugou yelled at the challenge and pushed himself to go faster. Luckily, the family that had been there at the beginning had left otherwise they would have been mowed down.
Deku turned underwater and pushed off the opposite end a second before Bakugou, which only made Bakugou more determined to win.
Ochako watched with bated breath as Bakugou caught up, now only half a body length behind Deku.
"Deku wins!" Iida shouted and the group clapped. Bakugou climbed out of the pool, his expression murderous.
"That was so close!" Hagakure told him. "You did that without your quirk too!"
"Should be better even without it," Bakugou growled before going to his chair. He shoved on his sunglasses and hat before lounging.
"Guess we'll take a break," Iida said. Deku got out of the pool and shook out his hair, making it poof. He ran his fingers through it and smiled at Ochako.
"Kacchan was right at my heels! What a race! Time for sunbathing apparently?" Deku asked her when he saw Bakugou.
"Yep! Good timing too, look," Ochako nodded toward the gate and saw Yaomomo and Todoroki back with their ice cream.
"Ooh! Yay!" Hagakure shrieked before running over to grab her salted caramel cone.
Ochako grabbed her strawberry cone along with Bakugou's chocolate.
"Here," Ochako said as she delivered it to him. He clicked his cone to hers then took a bite out of it. "Doesn't that hurt your teeth?"
" Tch , ice cream is no match for me," Bakugou rolled his eyes before taking another bite.
"I have never been more afraid of you," Ochako joked.
"That's what makes you afraid?" Todoroki asked nonchalantly as he sat in his chair next to Bakugou. "Interesting. The cold has never bothered me."
"Hey, Todoroki," Hagakure asked as she licked her cone. "Is part of your mouth good with spice and the other part good with cold?"
Todoroki lifted his sunglasses to stare at her.
"No," he answered simply.
"Huh, that's unfortunate," Hagakure said before walking to sit with Yaomomo and Tsu.
"Don't you want to sit with the other girls?" Deku asked before taking his seat next to Todoroki, a mint chocolate chip cone in hand.
"I hang out with them all the time. Besides, I've got all my boys right here," Ochako laughed.
"Your boys?" Bakugou scoffed. "You don't own us!"
"We're her boys," Todoroki countered.
"She's called us that since first year!" Iida said, carrying a chair in one hand and his vanilla cone in the other. He dropped the chair next to Ochako and grinned at her.
"You don't have to be a part of the boys," Deku whispered slyly and gave him a look. He knew exactly what he was doing.
"I'm the best of the boys, dammit!" Bakugou shouted angrily.
"Deku is the longest member," Todoroki reminded him. "By default he's the best."
"That's not how it works!" Bakugou yelled like he knew the rules of being part of the boys. "I've known Deku the longest but we're not best friends."
"We're best friends, Kacchan," Deku said very seriously.
Bakugou yelled in frustration, letting off small pops of explosions in his palm.
"Uraraka, how long has Bakugou been a part of the boys? We need to know," Iida said seriously, ignoring the commotion Bakugou was causing. All of them looked at her while Bakugou bit roughly into his ice cream again.
Ochako had been laughing hysterically at their conversation, careful to mind her own dessert. She caught her breath and calmed down.
"Probably when I told him about my mom," Ochako said. Bakugou looked away from her as he chewed.
"Oh, how's she doing by the way?" Deku asked with concern.
"She hasn't texted me since we got here. Dad says been kind of out of it. She's on new medication but the doctor's say to wait a few more days before coming back."
Ochako shook her head out a little before turning on a big smile for her boys.
"She'll be okay! She always is. My mom's strong."
"Like mother, like daughter," Iida said proudly. Ochako beamed.
"Yep!"
"Are we Tsu's boys as well?" Todoroki asked innocently. Ochako was glad for a conversation change. She didn't want to bring anybody down today. "She's never shown interest in that nickname."
"Tsu!" Iida shouted at her. Tsu looked at him quizzically. "Are we your boys?"
Tsu laughed and shook her head.
"No! You're Ochako's boys!" She said back. The girls giggled and Bakugou frowned.
Deku laughed awkwardly as Todoroki stared at Yaomomo.
"You think she's okay with that?" Todoroki asked softly.
"She's laughing. If she had a problem, she'd tell you," Deku answered.
"I mean, we're not officially dating," Todoroki continued.
"Because you refuse to label it," Iida reminded him.
Bakugou stood up with an angry grunt and walked over to their food table.
Ochako watched him leave only half listening to Todoroki delve into an existential crisis about his relationship with Yaomomo.
Bakugou kicked a chair at the table causing a horrible screech as it moved across the pavement. He sat with a scowl as he continued to aggressively eat his ice cream cone.
Her boys kept talking as Ochako got up to sit next to Bakugou.
"Why are you here? Your boys are over there," Bakugou grumbled.
"Don't be like that. I thought you might have left because you're allergic to relationships. Do you want to be alone?"
" Psh , just can't stand to be around people who won't make up their damn mind."
Ochako looked toward Deku who was pulling on his hair as Todoroki remained stoic while they talked. Iida was pacing behind them, chopping his hand every few words.
"Let's float," Ochako said quietly. Bakugou raised his eyebrows at her. "No, not with my quirk. I'll get Yaomomo to make those inflatable raft things. We can just chill for a bit."
Bakugou didn't say anything. He just continued eating his ice cream. She took that as an agreement.
Ochako got up and convinced Yaomomo to make a few different types of floaties and told the group her plan.
After the group finished their ice cream, they floated on the water. Besides some quiet conversations between some of her friends and the noise of the island and ocean around her, it was quiet. It was the perfect relaxation break for Ochako. She looked over to see Bakugou in a very similar position to how he had been last night. With closed eyes, shallow breathing, and a relaxed expression, he could have been sleeping. He might have been sleeping.
He certainly wasn't anymore when Todoroki and Deku climbed off their inner tubes and flipped his raft over.
"You're gonna die!" Bakugou screamed when he resurfaced. Todoroki and Deku swam away as fast as they could away from him. Ochako laughed at the sight of them before she herself was flipped over by Iida and Tsu.
Tsu waved to her underwater and Ochako giggled before swimming back up.
"You got me!" Ochako grinned happily.
"We're gonna do the chicken tournament and relay races," Tsu explained.
"So find a partner and let's battle!" Iida shouted as he raced toward the shallow end.
"I'm already with Iida, so pick one of your other boys," Tsu said as she followed him.
Yaomomo and Hagakure were thankful that no one had dunked them as they slid off their own floating devices and swam with them in the direction of Iida and Tsu.
"Hey!" Ochako shouted at the troublemakers who were now outside the pool trying to run away from Bakugou. "Pick your partners! We're starting more games!"
Deku nodded, dodging an attack from Bakugou to run and jump into the pool right next to Ochako.
"Partner?" Deku asked excitedly when he resurfaced.
"Sure!"
Todoroki followed suit and swam towards Yaomomo.
"Finish what you started, you bastards!" Bakugou yelled before diving into the pool to chase Todoroki. Deku playfully panicked as he and Ochako swam towards the others.
As the girls climbed on their vehicles, it was Yaomomo/Todoroki vs Deku/Ochako first.
"No quirks!" Iida told them before chopping his hand into the water with a splash. "Go!"
Deku charged at their opponents and Ochako locked arms with Yaomomo, pushing into her with all her strength. Yaomomo pushed back and Ochako stumbled a little. She felt Deku's grip on her thighs tighten as he knocked himself into Todoroki. Ochako gritted her teeth and changed from pushing to pulling. A small surprised noise escaped her as she and Todoroki fell underneath the water. Ochako put her hands on her hips as Deku cheered in victory.
"We're victorious!" Deku shouted happily. Yaomomo wiped the hair from her face when she resurfaced and helped Todoroki to the sidelines.
Ochako climbed off Deku's shoulders, giving him a high five as she splashed into the water next to him.
"We're gonna go inside for a bit," Yaomomo told the group. I need to reapply sunblock and Todoroki twisted his ankle."
"Weak," Bakugou muttered as Hagakure climbed on his back.
Yaomomo glared at him as they left the pool.
"Start!" Deku shouted, slapping his hand on the water to produce a satisfying smack.
As the pairs fought, Ochako noticed a familiar looking person at the fence.
"Deku, tell me that's not who I think it is," Ochako nudged him. Deku looked up and his face went dark.
"What are you doing here, Koyanagi?!" Deku shouted at the fence. Ochako saw Bakugou's eyes flash to the fence and he rammed into Iida with as much force as he could muster causing Iida and Tsu to tumble into the water. Hagakure, sensing something was up, jumped off of Bakugou before he could throw her off.
Bakugou climbed out of the pool and stomped toward Domen's ginger friend. Deku activated full cowling and immediately ran in front of him, pushing him back so he couldn't move forward.
"Get out of the way, Deku!" Bakugou screamed. "She's not interested in Rocky. Take a hint!" Bakugou shouted at the ginger.
"Why don't you let Gravity-Girl speak?" Koyanagi threw back.
"It's Uraraka," Ochako corrected him.
"Sure," Koyanagi said. "I just wanted to talk to you...alone."
"That's sure as fuck not gonna happen!" Bakugou shouted.
"I'm fine, Bakugou," Ochako said as she got out of the pool. The rest of her friends were staring at her. "I want to hear what he has to say."
"You're too nice," Bakugou muttered as she passed him. "He's a fucking creep just like Rocky."
"I can handle myself."
Bakugou looked at her for a moment before nodding.
"If he gives you trouble, float him sky high."
Bakugou threw off Deku's hands and jumped back into the pool. Deku looked like he didn't want to leave Ochako alone with him.
"He's behind a fence, Deku," Ochako said, waving him off. Deku nodded and followed Bakugou. She faced Koyanagi and gestured for him to start talking.
"I know Domen was an ass last night. He's been under a lot of stress and he hates events like that."
Ochako crossed her arms and Koyanagi rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"He doesn't know I'm here. I just think that maybe you should give him another chance. He's been talking about you for months. Just wants to get to know you."
"Why choose now? We go to the same school."
"You're always hanging around your friends! He's been trying to make a move for a while but never found the right time."
"I'm with friends now."
"You weren't in the auditorium."
"I just want a nice vacation," Ochako sighed. "I'm not dating while I'm going to U.A. I'm learning to be a hero. Nothing else."
"Not even gonna give him a chance?"
"No."
"I had to try. You're missing out."
"Thank you for your input. I'm sure Domen will be thankful for your wingman skills."
Koyanagi shook his head.
"He'd probably kill me for coming here-something about pride-but I know him. He's a nice guy, really."
Ochako felt for Koyanagi a little bit. He wasn't there when Domen was with Uraraka so he didn't get why she didn't want anything to do with him. All he saw was his friend get rejected by the girl he had been obsessed with. Domen didn't deserve Koyanagi.
"Uraraka, it's time for Bakugou vs Uraraka rematch number three!" Hagakure shouted. A hateful expression spread across the lanky ginger's face at the mention of Bakugou's name. He turned around to leave
"Just--if you do run into each other again, let him down gently. He feels like shit."
Koyanagi left in a hurry and Ochako uncrossed her arms. Ridding her mind of the conversation, Ochako put on a smile and jumped into the pool.
"Everything okay?" Deku asked as she climbed on his back.
"Yep!"
"This'll be over in less than a minute. Just watch Deku. You don't stand a chance against me."
"And me!" Hagakure said, already on top of his shoulders. "I helped a lot! Tsu couldn't tell where my arms were."
Bakugou rolled his eyes but acknowledged her.
"Right. You're gonna crash and burn," Bakugou hissed at Ochako.
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Which means your ego is going to leave a crater in the pool once I beat you," Ochako threw back.
"You're on."
"Loser buys dinner," Ochako wagered.
"No, I wouldn't want you to waste your money," Bakugou said with a competitive grin.
Ochako huffed.
"Fine. Losing team has to--," Ochako paused, trying to think of a punishment.
"Get polar-beared tomorrow morning!" Hagakure interjected.
"Fine."
"Deal."
"What's polar-bearing?" Deku asked.
"I'll tell you later," Ochako said as she stared down Bakugou.
"Go!" Iida shouted.
Bakugou rammed into Deku and Deku stumbled. Ochako tried to get a good handhold on Hagakure but she wasn't kidding. It was hard to tell where she was with just a bikini on. She felt hands on her shoulders and winced at how painful her touch felt. Ochako was definitely sunburned.
Forcing the pain out of her head, Ochako pushed on some part of Hagakare but the invisible girl had managed to wrap her arms around Ochako. Hagakure pulled her and she fell off Deku straight onto Bakugou.
"Ah!" Ochako managed to get out before all of them were underwater. She had pushed Bakugou down to the pool floor and was laying on top of him. Bakugou scowled at her. Ochako grinned and waved. His scowl deepened and Ochako got off him.
She heard Hagakure's cheering even before she broke the surface.
"I won! We won!"
Tsu and Iida were clapping respectively when Bakugou came up for air.
"Congrats, Kacchan!" Deku cheered, wiping the water off his face.
"Whatever," Bakugou muttered, getting out of the pool and heading to the food table.
The rest of the day flew by. Bakugou and Tsu crushed everyone at the relay races which prompted another, much longer break that Ochako spent underwater as much as possible. She didn't want to risk getting more sunburnt and it was relatively silent underwater. Tsu joined Ochako's underwater escapades as she liked the quiet as much as Ochako did. They competed on who could hold their breath or stay at the bottom of the pool the longest, all of which Tsu won.
Bakugou munched on vegetables while he lounged in his chair. Deku, Iida, and Hagakure tried out cool and different jumps into the deep end but eventually joined Ochako and Tsu in their swimming adventures.
Eventually the day turned to night, which Ochako was grateful for. She had had a blast but prolonged exposure to the sun really had her missing the cool night air and stars that wouldn't burn her. The group was playing Marco Polo when Yaomomo and Todoroki entered their line of sight.
"You were gone all day!" Iida scolded. Yaomomo waved him off.
"Leave them alone. If they want to kiss all day, let them!" Hagakure said. Yaomomo blushed and Todoroki looked at Hagakure with confusion.
"That's not what we were doing," Todoroki said.
"We just walked around for a bit," Yaomomo added quickly. "To help his ankle and to see some of the nearby sights."
"Uh-huh, sure," Hagakure muttered sarcastically. "One more round of Marco Polo and then I'm heading back up to the room."
"Same," Tsu said. "I'm pretty tired."
Yaomomo pouted slightly but Todoroki shrugged.
"You had to have expected as much," he said to her.
"Yes but I don't want to get all wet for just one round!"
"Then leave," Bakugou said roughly. "I'm seeker anyway this time so you'll lose if you play."
"Let's just watch," Todoroki suggested and the two of them sat together with Yaomomo tucked underneath his arms.
"Alright weaklings! Get ready to be murdered!" Bakugou shouted, closed his eyes tightly, then spun himself rapidly. "Marco!"
"Polo," the rest of the group said in a monotone voice.
"Get your shit together! You better try hard to not get caught!" Bakugou yelled. Deku splashed around to distract him while he swam away. It didn't fool Bakugou. "Idiot!"
Ochako stood near Hagakure as Bakugou chased Deku around.
"Did you mean what you said? Polo," Hagakure asked Ochako.
"About what? Polo," Ochako's eyes squinted with confusion. She hadn't said anything to Hagakure that would elicit that response.
"About not dating at all-polo-during high school?"
"Uh, yeah," Ochako shrunk into herself. "How did-?"
"Polo--we kind of all listened to you talk to that one guy. Sorry. Polo--we wanted to make sure he didn't say anything mean to you. Polo-I just thought it was weird since you had a crush- polo-on Deku. You shouldn't have a rule like that, you know. Someone could come along and--Polo!" Hagakure said loudly enough for Bakugou to turn around and snarl in her direction as he was closing on Deku. She swam away and Ochako stayed in place. He followed the sounds of Hagakure's splashing.
"Marco!" He yelled.
"Polo," Ochako whispered as she backed away from him. Bakugou turned to face her and then lurched forward to catch her.
"Got you!" He yelled as they tumbled underwater. She was wrapped up in his arms as they bobbed to the surface. Bakugou opened his eyes and tilted his head. "You throwin'?"
"No, you caught me fair and square," Ochako grinned tiredly. Bakugou looked into her eyes and then scowled. He didn't believe her and for good reason. Ochako was tired and in pain. All she wanted to do was lay down.
"You're sunburnt," he said, looking at her chest and neck.
"Yeah."
"Want to go back to the room?" He asked roughly.
Ochako nodded.
"I'll order pizza," Bakugou said as he let her go and swam away without waiting for a response.
"Game over?" Tsu asked from the other side of the pool.
"Yeah, he got me," Ochako said. "I think I'm done."
"Yeah, me too," Deku said as he stretched. "It's dark and I'm hungry."
"Alright. Well, I had fun. I hope you all did too!" Iida said with a wide smile.
"Definitely!" Deku smiled. "What a great day!"
"Lots of fun, ribbit ."
Ochako got out of the pool and wrapped herself in her towel. Bakugou was already packing up their things. She shivered as the ocean air blew through her. How she could be so warm and so cold at the same time was unbelievable to her.
Bakugou slung the bags over his shoulders, which Ochako noticed quickly were not sunburned like hers.
"I threw your clothes in your bag," he said as he started walking to the pool gate. "Unless you're uncomfortable."
"No, I'm covered with the towel. Thank you," Ochako said quietly. Why did it feel like her heart was melting?
Bakugou nodded and continued walking.
"Bye, everyone!" Ochako waved high in the air and smiled through the pain as she dropped her arm. Her skin was tight and on fire.
"Bye, Ochako!" Everyone waved back. She saw Yaomomo whisper something to Todoroki and they both stared at her as she jogged to catch up with Bakugou. Ochako didn't like that one bit.
"They're talking about me," Ochako whispered to Bakugou. He looked down at her.
"Why do you care?"
"Um-," Ochako started. "They're my friends."
"So you know they're not saying anything bad about you. They're probably wondering why we're leaving together. They don't know we're sharing a room but they're not complete idiots sometimes."
When they got to their room, Ochako immediately went into the bathroom to check out her sunburn.
"Ah," Ochako breathed when she twisted to see her back. It was bright red. Her neck and chest were also very red but not as bad as her back. She looked down at her stomach and thighs to see more red skin. "It's ruined."
"What's ruined?" Bakugou said through the door.
"My vacation--look."
Ochako opened the door and let Bakugou look at her.
"Fuck, Uraraka, you didn't put on sunscreen!?"
"No! I didn't have any!"
"You could have asked me!"
"But I didn't know you had any!"
Bakugou's eyes were wide with anger as he stared her down.
"I'll get aloe and medicine," Bakugou said through gritted teeth. He marched out of the room and slammed the door behind him. Ochako poured herself a cup of water from the bathroom sink before she carefully washed her face, which was also burnt, and put her hair up in a very messy bun. When Bakugou came back into the room, she was sitting down on the cot in her pajamas watching a movie.
"At least this will force me to relax," Ochako said to him with a weak grin. He didn't think it was funny.
" Tch . Here."
Bakugou threw some ibuprofen and aloe vera on the blankets next to her.
"Thank you."
"Pizza will be here in a bit. Figured pepperoni was a safe bet."
"Mhm."
Bakugou stood awkwardly in place for a few seconds before taking his own sleeping clothes in the bathroom to change.
Ochako quickly took a couple pills and began putting the aloe on her thighs and stomach. She breathed out in relief. By the time Bakugou came back out, she had successfully got everything but her back.
"So much better. Thank you again," Ochako said as he sat down on the bed.
"You don't need to keep saying thank you," he muttered.
Once the pizza came, Ochako and Bakugou both sat on the bed with the box in front of them, using towels as plates and napkins. They decided to catch up on the news which was covering a story concerning the spike in missing persons in Japan. Dots of cases covered the picture of their home country.
"That's so many people," Ochako worried. "I wonder if they'll start enforcing a town curfew when we get back."
Bakugou shrugged.
"I wonder if this is because heroes are retiring? Like these cases are increasing because the number of heroes are decreasing?"
"It's a theory," Bakugou muttered. "There won't be a curfew. The abductions aren't just at night and they're all over the place," Bakugou said with a yawn as he turned off the news. They both knew they'd never get good, reliable information from a news station.
Ochako finished her slice of pizza, wiped her face and fingers on the towel, then got to brush her teeth. She was very much ready to sleep and wouldn't be surprised if she knocked out as soon as she laid down. What did surprise her was that Bakugou got up and joined her in the bathroom. They watched each other as they brushed side by side. When Ochako finished, she reached up for one of the clean washcloths, soaked it in cold water and put it on her face and neck. Ochako tried to get the wet cloth down her back to soothe her skin. With how bad her burns were, she was struggling to reach the spot that hurt the most.
Bakugou finished brushing and looked at her with hardened eyes. Ochako left the bathroom with her wash cloth in hand and laid down on the cot.
"Ow," Ochako groaned when the spot in her back flared up. She closed her eyes to try and get through the pain.
"You couldn't get your back, right?" Bakugou asked, clearing his throat. Ochako's eyes snapped open.
"Um-"
"It might be a good idea to go to Tsu. Might convince them you're in a room by yourself."
Ochako sat up carefully and looked at him, searching for any signs that he was teasing her.
"I really don't want to go. I can't lie to them if they ask me outright."
"Then you have two choices. Suffer or let me do it."
"Are you okay with that?" Ochako asked him.
"It's not a big deal," Bakugou said roughly. "If you don't need help then don't take it."
"It's not that I don't--I just--ugh, fine. Please do it," Ochako landed on, her face somehow turning redder.
Bakugou grabbed the aloe and got on his knees by the cot. Ochako swung her legs so her back was facing him and took a deep calming breath. It was just a friend helping a friend. Nothing else. It wasn't like he hadn't seen her back before; it would just be sans bra this time. He wouldn't see anything.
She flinched the first time when his fingers lifted her shirt and again when his fingers touched her skin. Ochako held the front of her shirt to her stomach tightly, feeling very out of place on the cot with Bakugou rubbing her skin so gingerly.
"You know, even with the burn I had a great day. Thanks for hanging out with us."
"It wasn't completely horrible."
"