A/N: Woof, this specific timeframe of Hitomi realizing her crush and how she reacts to it gave me such a hard time. I changed the original content of this chapter and the next few almost completely, so I just hope you guys will enjoy them :)

But trust me, when I say it's frustrating, IT'S GONNA BE FRUSTRATING.

ALSO! I feel like I should mention this again since it's been so long, but the rest of this fic will be more romance-focused and slice-of-life oriented and there will be WAY LESS action (there might not be any more at all tbh…). Sorry to anyone that likes that kind of thing more! At the end of the day I'm someone who likes content about relationships and shipping more than anything, so I just thought you guys should know this ahead of time so you understand what you're in for. Also because when I was writing the latter half of this fic the manga was only up to the cultural festival, so I never really had much planned for after it when I was originally writing this fic lol

Posting this hours after I was supposed to because I forgot to do it at noon (I had a final exam today whiuhgdsg)

Art -

[Complete Gallery] Add /21axlkt3bolc to the DeviantArt Stash URL.

[Ch. 59] Add /22f6fp83bkv8 to the DeviantArt Stash URL.

Hitomi had made a full recovery from her fever over the weekend, allowing her to return to school well-rested and healthy.

Much to her relief, she'd been left alone for the most part during that time, the only contact she'd had with others being Yaoyorozu and Iida giving her the homework she missed and her friends bringing her meals. Everyone had seemed to take her excuse that she "didn't want to pass the bug around" without protest, taking care not to bother her.

If Hitomi was being honest, she didn't even completely understand why she had decided to seclude herself.

…Well, it was probably because she didn't want to deal with Bakugou in that state.

Then again, he had his provisional license course lessons with Todoroki on weekends, which meant he was gone for half the day anyway.

But, now I'm back in school, Hitomi thought tiredly as she trudged to the administration office, so I'm going to have to face him whether I like it or not.

Spending such a period of time without seeing him left Hitomi unsure. She had no idea how she may act around him.

Although, the way she seemed unable to form a coherent thought when he was near gave her a good idea.

I just hope I don't make a fool out of myself.

Hitomi let out a small huff. "Jeez, why did it have to be him of all people…?" she mumbled to herself.

She knocked on the door of the office, sliding it open timidly. "Excuse me…"

The room was barren, and all Hitomi was met with was silence. She cursed inwardly to herself, glancing around the empty room. Maybe she'd come to school a little too early.

"Hello? Anybody here…?" she called out.

There was the sound of a chair squeaking and a woman's head popped up from behind one of the computers, pulling earbuds out of her elf-like ears.

"Over here!" she singsonged nonchalantly, waving Hitomi over. The bluenette made her way over as the woman clicked her mouse, likely looking something over on her monitor. She had brown skin and black hair, with some of it tied into a bun at the top of her head while the rest rested against her back. With the 3 white streaks in her hair and the frost-covered tips, along with the winter-like outfit she was wearing, Hitomi recognized her as the Pro Hero Nix, a teacher's aide who'd just joined the staff this semester.

She stopped by the older woman, clutching her packet of schoolwork against her chest.

"What's up?" Nix asked, her tone fairly casual. Hitomi was a bit thrown off by her informality, considering she was a staff member and all. Then again, she had Aizawa for a homeroom teacher, so…

Hitomi held up the orange envelope, trying to keep her mind on track. "Uh, this is the make-up work for all the days I missed while I was sick…! For Hitomi Kanetsukabe of Class 1-A. I was wondering if you could get these to Aizawa-sensei…"

Nix took it from her hands, undoing the clasp and pulling out the small stack of papers. She whistled as she flipped through a few of them. "No problem," she hummed. "I could probably grade a few of these, too. Nice work, by the way."

Hitomi bowed in thanks, excusing herself and stepping out of the office.

After dropping off her missed work, she walked to 1-A's classroom in a daze, the sounds of all the students in the early morning being reduced to white noise. She had woken up and come to school earlier than usual so she could turn in her homework ahead of time, and was still a little sleepy. Since she had come earlier than the rest of the class, she was likely to come to an empty classroom too.

And she was right, sliding open the door to find no one inside.

Talk about inviting… Hitomi thought humorlessly.

She walked to her desk, hanging her backpack and plopping into her seat. Only a few seconds later, she folded her arms on the surface and rested her head against her desk, fiddling with a piece of her hair.

Before she knew it, her eyes had drifted shut.

…

The classroom door in the back slid open, a quiet "tch" sounding.

"Fucking asshats…"

Bakugou stood in the doorway, running his hand through his hair in irritation.

He had come to school ahead of the rest of the class, not wanting to deal with Kaminari and the other over-energetic dweebs' chattiness at 8 in the morning.

He was still in a pissy mood from yesterday, as he had essentially been beaten to a pulp by Gang Orca at his provisional license course class. He had the bandages on his face to fucking prove it.

The dumbasses he begrudgingly called his "friends" wouldn't shut up or stop laughing at him about it, so he had grabbed his bag and stomped out of the dorms in a huff.

I don't know how they can be so hyper in the morning…

Bakugou paused when he saw Hitomi asleep at her desk, his peeved expression subsiding. He closed the door behind him and walked over quietly, his hands in his pockets as he stared down at her.

Hitomi was sleeping soundly, completely unaware a piece of her hair was stuck in her mouth.

Bakugou snorted, his lips turning up in a small smirk. "What an idiot."

He pulled one of his hands out of his pockets, reaching out towards the stray blue strands. Right when he was about to touch them, he paused, his eyes narrowing.

What the fuck am I doing…?

His hand lingered there, frozen as if afraid to touch her. After a few moments of contemplation, his hand moved, gently pulling her hair away and tucking it behind her ear.

Bakugou pulled his hand away quickly, shoving it into his pocket as if he hadn't touched her at all.

He watched as Hitomi's face scrunched up, hissing to himself.

...Shit.

Hitomi stirred, her eyebrows furrowing. She whispered something, Bakugou barely able to hear her even though they were the only ones in the classroom.

"Wait…"

He raised a brow, watching her closely.

She fidgeted, her expression slowly turning… sad…?

Hitomi suddenly sat up straight, her eyes snapping open as she let out a yelp. "No…!"

Bakugou flinched back in surprise, watching as she breathed heavily.

"O-Oi…"

Hitomi turned to him abruptly, seeming to stiffen at the sight of him. Her eyes widened, and Bakugou noticed her cheeks turn red before she suddenly jumped out of her seat, shoving past him and running out of the classroom.

Bakugou watched in shock as she disappeared, squinting at the open door.

"What the hell was that…?"

…

Hitomi sprinted out of the classroom like her life depended on it, running straight to one of the girls' bathrooms and locking herself in a stall.

She panted as she rested her hands against the door, a completely jittery mess.

Why… Why was he there…?

Hitomi touched her cheeks, feeling there was a warm blush splotched across her face.

She then groaned, flopping her head against the door and making a dull "thunk".

I can't believe I had a dream with… with him in it…!

Why did I even let myself fall asleep in the classroom?!

Hitomi bit her lip, cradling her cheeks with a sigh as she recalled the dream she'd just awoken from.

"I… I like you!"

Hitomi bunched her skirt up in her hands, her eyes glued to her shoes. Her face was a bright red, her shoulders completely stiff as she waited for a response.

"Hah…?"

Hitomi gulped, mustering together the courage to look up. She was face-to-face with Bakugou, the two of them standing alone behind the gym on the P.E. grounds.

She wrung her skirt in her hands, looking to the side sheepishly.

"I like you, Bakugou," she mumbled. "That's what I wanted to tell you."

"Oi."

Bakugou stared down at her, his eyes narrowing.

"You're being serious…?"

Hitomi nodded timidly, biting her lip.

"I'm not asking you to give me a response…!" she stuttered. "I just… I just wanted you to know how I feel…"

Bakugou scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Why? You think I'd develop some fucking soft spot for you or something by telling me that shit?"

Hitomi stiffened, letting go of her skirt to hold her hands up. "No! No, of course not…! I- I just don't think I could hide it that well, and- I'd rather tell you on my own terms so I-"

"...Tch."

Hitomi froze, falling silent.

"What makes you think I would give a shit about how you feel?"

Her eyes widened as she stared at him in confusion. "Huh…?"

Bakugou's face formed a scowl. "I don't need some lame extra hovering over me, hoping they'll get a relationship out of me if they hang around long enough."

"'Extra'…?" Hitomi repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

But… I thought we were…

She shook her head, worry now clawing at her heart. "I already told you it's not like that…! I don't expect anything out of you-"

"You say that's how you feel now, but can you look me in the eye and tell me that won't change later?"

Hitomi shrunk back at the sight of his glare, at a loss for words. "I…"

His eyes were too intimidating, too intense that she couldn't find it in herself to speak.

Bakugou took her silence as an answer, huffing as he turned away. "Leave me the hell alone. I don't need someone like you annoying me."

"Like me…?" Hitomi mumbled, watching as he started to walk away. "Wait!"

Bakugou paused, glancing over his shoulder.

Hitomi felt like she couldn't breathe, her hands balling into fists as she stared at him. "What do you mean, 'like me'...?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Bakugou sneered. "You're useless. A weakling. Beneath me. And I don't need someone like that dragging me down. So stay the fuck away from me."

The words felt like a stab through her chest.

"What…? You… don't even think we could be friends anymore…?"

Hitomi was surprised her own voice didn't waver.

Bakugou eyed her, his expression unreadable.

"...Yeah," he scoffed. "I don't even know why I let you hang around me as long as I did." He turned away, readjusting his hands in his pockets. "So stop wasting my time."

Hitomi watched, speechless as he walked away. She watched as he stepped out into the sunlight, walking across the PE grounds while she stayed glued to her spot in the gym's shadow.

"No…"

A stinging feeling burned in her eyes as the wind blew, rustling the nearby bushes and trees. It was taking everything in her not to cry right then and there.

And then Hitomi had woken up, only to find herself face-to-face with the one who had said such hurtful things.

Luckily it was just a dream, though…

Hitomi sat on top of the toilet seat cover, slumping forward with a sigh.

"It's not like he'd be so cruel as to throw my own insecurities back in my face like that… right?" she whispered.

After all… he even… comforted me back then…

But… what if he really did hate the idea of her liking him? Or was even disgusted by it?

What if he really did cut her off completely if he found out?

Hitomi's fingers traced over her cheeks, feeling the blush had finally faded. Biting her lip, she left the stall and exited the bathroom, making the slow trek back to the classroom.

I should probably be giving Bakugou more credit.

I mean, we're friends…! That should mean something to him, right?

She opened the door located in the front of the classroom, peeking inside. The class had finally arrived, filling the room with morning chatter. Hitomi's eyes scanned the room, seeing Bakugou was at his desk with his hand resting against his cheek, staring at the blackboard indifferently.

...Right?

Hitomi gulped, timidly entering the classroom. She kept her eyes glued to the floor as she walked to her desk, her entire body stiff.

She could feel Bakugou was staring at her as she passed by him.

Probably because of how I ran out when I saw him…

She really really hoped she wasn't blushing right now.

Hitomi took her seat, finally feeling herself relax as she looked to see Bakugou was facing the front and she was out of his line of sight. She sighed, resting her forehead against her hands.

For now, I can't be around him.

Not until I figure out how to get my feelings under control.

A/N: After having the rewritten version of this chapter in my docs for a long while now (hint: since February of LAST FUCKING YEAR ) I'm kinda iffy on it.

I just hope everyone remembers that for all the growth she's made so far, Hitomi's still a pessimist at the end of the day. Also, she has a crush on Bakugou, who for all his admirable traits, is a fucking asshole (lol). So I can understand her dilemma and the line she finds herself tiptoeing on, especially since she does value his friendship. I just hope this chapter conveyed that and sets up upcoming chapters well enough Q~Q

Also, new OC! I came up with her on a whim back during Christmas but she won't show up much or add much to the plot here. She's just,,, there 😅