Kuri ran down the stairs towards the front of the building, coming to a stop outside the open door. She pivoted and tried to shake the anxiety out of her limbs.
Neither Bakugo nor Midoriya had won the rounds where they were on their own, so Kuri didn't have much hope for herself. She decided that she'd try to keep the combat to a minimum for the sake of her physical well-being.
The extent of her plan was to go in, get the hostage, and get out. She wasn't really sure how she'd do that, but plans were overrated anyway.
Since there wasn't really a cue for when they were supposed to start the round, Kuri just ran back in. She didn't get very far before she was confronted by Bakugo.
He charged at her, and Kuri jumped over him, not really dodging his attack. She leaped down the hall in the direction of the stairs, briefly examining the scorch marks left on her clothes.
Bruh, I'm gonna need new stuff again. And I should've redone my hair before the match started. It feels like my hair tie is about to slip right off.
She groaned, then pulled the elastic off and threw it away, causing her hair to flutter as she jumped about.
I'm going to regret this when my hair starts flying into my mouth, but whatever.
Bakugo used his explosions to propel him as he chased her, and Kuri had to jump off the walls to evade his attacks. Using her ricochet technique was difficult in such cramped quarters. Lucky for her, she was a small person.
The booming of the explosions echoed through the small corridors, and it hurt Kuri's ears. She wondered just how messed up Bakugo's hearing was. Probably bad enough to need hearing aids in a few years.
Kuri finally made it to the stairs and skipped them all in one jump, landing at the top in a crouching position.
Midoriya leaped out of nowhere, swinging his leg at her to kick. Kuri ducked and jumped away, pushing some stray locks of hair away from her face.
The second floor was completely open, with only a few columns for support. Kuri could tell from one quick glance that the hostage was not around.
With two people now hot on her tail, Kuri quickly made her way up to the third floor. She ran through the corridors, peeking into rooms and down dead ends for the hostage.
She finally spotted the mannequin tucked in the corner of a room and grabbed it. Bakugo was around the corner from her, and Kuri was slightly panicking. She hid in the spot where she'd found the hostage, and Bakugo passed by, somehow not noticing her.
She had sort of lost her way in the maze-like corridors of the third floor, and she couldn't exactly remember where the stairs were. Not that she'd be able to make it past Midoriya and Bakugo even if she knew their location.
Kuri snuck out of the room, wandering aimlessly and on the verge of giving up. Then, she saw the hole that Bakugo had blasted into the floor earlier.
She hopped down, loudly stumbling on the debris as she landed. Bakugo followed close behind and nearly landed on her.
Kuri jumped over to a window and kicked it in an attempt to break it and get out. The glass cracked in a spider-web pattern but stayed in place.
Before she could give it a couple more hits to shatter it, she turned to see Bakugo coming at her, his gloved palm glowing with the makings of an explosion.
Kuri turned to him, and in her frenzy, she grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him close to her. This caused Bakugo's arm to go over her shoulder as he fired off the explosion, which shattered the window.
Kuri felt a small piece of glass scrape her neck, and she squeaked in pain.
Then, she let go of Bakugo, and forcefully kicked him. He flew back and landed a few meters away.
She hopped up onto the windowsill, with the mannequin safely in her arms. She could hear Midoriya running down the stairs.
Bakugo propped himself up on his elbows, then looked up at her and scowled.
"Sorry, Katsuki!" she said, smiling apologetically.
"Fuck you."
"Fair enough," she said, turning around.
As Kuri jumped down, she grinned. It looked like there had been nothing to worry about after all.
The three of them had suffered relatively minor injuries, so for once, no one had to be taken away on a stretcher. The only downside was that they had to walk all the way back to the school to get any medical attention.
Some way or another, Bakugo found himself walking back with Nakano and Deku. He just naturally drifted towards her side because of all the times they'd walked home together.
Bakugo frowned at the stupid smug look on Nakano's face. She'd won in all three rounds, and suddenly she was acting like she was the best.
"I can't believe I actually won that last round," she said, laughing as she tried to push her hair back. "I thought you two would accidentally kill me or something, and I'd lose."
"I only let you win because it's your last day here," Bakugo said, crossing his arms. This statement was untrue, and she had beat him fair and square. However, he guessed that she did deserve a win against him before she left, even if she was annoying.
Nakano stopped for a second, and her face contorted in confusion.
"I'm not leaving yet?" she said.
"I thought you were going back home when the school year ended," he said.
"I'm here until we graduate."
"Oh…"
Bakugo felt like a fool. She had never said anything about leaving, so where did he even get the idea?
Fuck, now I look like an idiot.
"Were you excited about me possibly leaving?" she asked, taking off her glasses and putting them in her pocket. "I thought we were friends. I'm hurt…"
She dramatically pretended to wipe away a tear. Bakugo scoffed, hiding his small grin.
"Wait," Deku said. "You two are friends? I thought you were still enemies or something."
"We were enemies?" Nakano asked. Deku shrugged.
"We're not really friends," Bakugo said. "She just says that we are."
"I believe that if I keep telling him that we are, then someday it'll be true," Nakano said to Deku. Bakugo rolled his eyes.
"Maybe if you were less annoying, then it'd be true…" Bakugo muttered.
"So there's still a possibility?" she asked. "If that's the case, then I can't wait until you like me!"
"L- Like you?!"
Has she somehow found out that I know?! Or is this her way of confessing?
"I- I meant like friends," she stammered out, her face turning red.
Oh. Of course, that's what she meant. I need to stop freaking out at everything she does. Since when was I so obsessed with that idiot? I'm seriously going crazy...
"I feel like I'm third-wheeling right now."
"Sh- Shut up, stupid Deku!" Bakugo exclaimed. Nakano giggled and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
So, she wasn't leaving yet. Strangely enough, Bakugo was relieved.
He wasn't really sure why. Six months ago, he wouldn't have cared what happened to Nakano. Now, he'd been sad about her possibly leaving.
When had he gotten to this point?
How had he gotten to this point?
Fuck, what even was this point?
Well, it looks like the year is ending.
Kuri had made a lot of good friends and good memories. Everything had been pretty fun so far, and hopefully, it'd continue to be pleasant.
Kuri sneaked a peek at Bakugo and smiled. He sure was cute. She was going to cherish her next two years with him. If they ended up dating, it'd be like a dream come true, but just being friends with him was more than enough.
Kuri loved him, for whatever reason. She couldn't even remember how or when she had started liking him, but it didn't matter.
Love is a weird thing. It's hard to explain or give a reason for. All Kuri knew was that she was happiest when he was near her. If that meant she loved him, then so be it.
Bakugo glanced at her for a second and noticed her stare.
"What are you looking at, dumbass?"
"Oh, uh, it's nothing," she said awkwardly and looked away.
He didn't need to know about how she felt. It'd ruin their blooming friendship if he didn't like her back. And if he happened to like her too, then what? The next two years would be spent worrying about how limited their time was together.
It wasn't enough time.
It'd never be enough.
Ignoring this reality would be the best way to keep enjoying the duration spent with her friends.
Her only choice was to keep moving forward and treasure her remaining time at UA. After all, who knows what could happen next?
