Toru doubles over in laughter. She'd continue to pester Bakugo whenever possible, sometimes going as far as to test his senses. He'd take the challenge head-on, and whenever Toru managed to get one over him, he'd make sure to get her back next time. It became a sort of game between the two that the blonde refused to lose.
Once the laughter died down, Toru let out a sad sigh. "I'm sorry I never told you guys about it. The bullying's stopped, but I don't want to lie and say that it doesn't upset me anymore. But despite the downsides, my quirk is my hero identity, and I refuse to let it go unnoticed!"
The rest of the girls shared looks of pity, guilt, and admiration. They weren't sure what to make of her confession, but it was clear that the violently eruptive teen seemed to have been able to cull her insecurities, if only a little. Between Momo and Toru's stories, Ochako made a mental note to put in more effort when checking on her friends. Future heroes or not, you never know what struggles they may be facing behind closed doors.
The girls huddled together, giving their collective support until, eventually, the conversation returned to the boy in question. Mina spoke up in irritation. "Okay, so he did a couple of nice things. Jiro's the only one who said she'd date him, and the rest of you haven't said anything that proves he'd make a good boyfriend."
"You are the closest to him out of the six of us, Mina." Momo looked at the pink girl with suspicion. "Where is this sudden animosity coming from?"
Toru lunged forward, using a pencil to point at Mina. "Tell us what you're hiding!"
Panic spread across Mina's face. She looked to Ochako, who quickly turned away while Jiro Tsuyu silently glared. "Okay, fine! I'll tell you, so lay off."
Mina's POV
"What the hell are you doing here, Racoon Eyes?" Bakugo growled.
"You are the only one who doesn't have plans on a Saturday night, apparently. Trust me, if I could have asked literally anyone else, I would have." My tone matched his as I spoke that last part. I had a date with Eijiro in a few hours—our first date. I could not let him see me in some raggedy old dress from last year. Tonight would set the course for our relationship, and it had to be perfect. So it just had to be my luck that all of the girls were going home to see their families when I needed them the most. I ended up asking some of the boys who I knew had even a marginal sense of fashion, but they were all going out to a game downtown. Bakugo, the living definition of a one-track mind, was sitting at his desk studying on a Saturday!
I heard the overachiever click his tongue. "Look," I said, trying to stay calm, "if you help me pick out an outfit for my date, I'll do your homework!"
"Like hell I'll let you ruin my GPA!"
"Then how about I made you lunch?"
"And end up with food poisoning?"
He's unbelievable. "Can't you just find it in your heart to help a cute girl fall in love?"
"I'll kill you."
I slump to the ground. "So this is it then. My date is ruined, and my love life is over before it even begins."
Bakugo tapped his pen in irritation. "It's not that serious, Pinky."
"I'll never find happiness!"
"For fuck's sake, will you-"
"OH THE PAIN! MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT!"
"If I take you to the goddamn mall, will you leave me the fuck alone!?"
I hop to my feet with a giant grin. "I'll grab my bag."
"So where the hell are we going?" Bakugo groaned. He'd been in a sour mood the entire trip here. I'd feel guilty if it wasn't for the fact that I need this. I grab his sleeve and drag him through the crowd until we arrive at my favorite shop. "You've got to be fucking kidding me."
Maniquens lined the display dressed in the most vibrant designs on the market. Inside, I saw the owner showing a customer a pair of books almost as pink as I am. She noticed me and waved for me to come inside. I started to walk but nearly fell back from where I was still latched onto the boy. "What now?"
"I'm not fucking going in there!"
"You promised you'd help me pick an outfit!
"Like hell I did!" Bakugo pulled his arm out of my grasp and glared at the zebra print jacket on display.
"Calm down, man," a deep voice said. "That's no way to talk to a lady."
A boy who looked like he could be in college approached us. He wore a white suit with a crimson button-up shirt. Despite how tacky it looked, I could tell that the material was high-quality. Anyone who wore such expensive clothes to the mall could only be up to no good.
"These are U.A. uniforms, aren't they?" He looked down at Bakugo, sizing him up before turning to me. "Our country is lucky to have such a cute hero protecting it. Say, why don't you leave your boyfriend and hang out with a real man like me? I'll buy you whatever you want." The way this sleazeball was undressing me with his eyes made me sick to my stomach. If I could, I would melt that ugly suit and see how he likes being stared at.
I was about to tell him off when Bakugo stepped between us. Surprisingly, instead of blasting the douche into next week, or at least threatening to, he just glared at him for a moment before grabbing my wrist and leading me into the store. I was so caught off guard that I didn't notice the woman strutting towards us.
"Queen!" the woman shouted. She pulled me into a hug and kissed each of my cheeks. Her eyes shifted to Bakugo, who was still holding my wrist. "Is this the boy you were telling me about?"
"Absolutely not," I said, pulling away to cross my arms in an X. "This is Bakugo, a friend from school. Bakugo, this is-"
"I'm Ms. Chivus," the woman said in a low sultry voice. Bakugo grimaced and turned to probably look for something that didn't make him want to blow something up. "The strong, silent type, I see."
Well, one of those is true.
"I actually have a date with that boy tonight," I said. "I was hoping you could help me find the perfect outfit."
"You came to the right place!" Ms. Chivus led us to the back of the store and pulled out a shoe box. "This came in this morning, and I instantly thought of you."
I could always trust the woman's opinion, so I eagerly opened the box. Inside, there were high heels styled to look like high-top sneakers. It was long enough to reach the midpoint of my shin and had a white base with straps loosely hanging over the black laces. If it were any other occasion, I'd have bought them in a heartbeat.
"I… don't think this is the style I want to go for tonight," I said sadly. From the corner of my eye, I could see Bakugo raise an eyebrow.
"I see," Ms. Chivus said with a look of shock. "Well, I'm sure we can find something." She returned the box and led us through the racks, pulling out everything that she thought suited me and every piece I loved as much as the last. But they were just too much. Tonight wasn't just for me; it was also for Eijiro. I had to be perfect.
After rejecting every suggestion the woman gave, I ended up leaving with nothing. "I'm sorry for dragging you out here," I mumbled to Bakugo. He'd been silent the entire time, and it showed just how stupid I was for forcing him to help. "Let me treat you to something to eat."
Bakugo huffed in response, so I took it as acceptance. When we arrived at the food court, he sat at a table and immediately pulled out his headphones to block out the rest of the world like the antisocial brat he was. I didn't mind since I'd picked up on his food palette after all the lunches we'd had together. I scanned the shops until I found the one I thought was the spiciest option. It, of course, had to be on the other side of the food court and had the longest line. Nothing can go my way, apparently.
As I waited, I looked at the displays on the nearby jobs, and one caught my eye. I literally ran to the glass, my breath fogging it slightly. "Excuse me!" I called to a woman stocking the shelves. I gave her my size, and she led me to the changing room. After a quick change, I stood before the mirror wearing a short red dress, the same shade as Eijiro's signature Red Riot hair and costume. I stroked the fabric, taking in the sensation, and imagined how it'd feel against his rough hands. It was perfect.
The small cubical shook, and I could hear an explosion in the distance, followed by screaming. Instantly, I was out the door and weaving through the panicked crowd, trying to find the source of the commotion. Another two explosions, followed by one much larger one. Damnit, Bakugo, what the hell did you get yourself into!?
There was a clearing ahead. Bakugo was fighting two large men; one looked like a bull, and the other had a claw machine crane similar to a scorpion's tail. Off to the side, a man in an ugly white suit was holding a boy, threatening to slam a swirling ball of energy into him. I picked up speed and sprayed out a noncorrosive acid. "Heads up!"
The douche turned just as I slid past him, coating the back of his legs in a thick slime, locking him in place. In one quick motion, I burned a hole in the ground to stop my momentum and twisted my body so that I was right below him. I jumped up, pulled his quirk-activated arm away from the boy, and slammed my elbow into the back of his head, knocking him out cold.
Once the boy was safe, I rushed to assist Bakugo. The Bullman noticed me and flared his nostrils. I took a matador pose and waved my hand dramatically. "Toro! Toro!" He screamed as she charged towards me. I leaked out acid from my feet and spun, sending a splash of acid on him as he passed by. "Ole!" The Bullman groaned in pain but prepared to charge once again. I waved my hand, taunting him. "Toro!" Toro-"
Just as I prepared to spin out of the way, my shoe fell apart, causing me to slip. Not missing the opportunity, he charged at me, and I quickly coated the front of my body in a thick acid, cushioning the impact. He tried to pull away, but I grabbed him by the horns, melting them and burning the top of his head. There was a brutal scream as he finally broke from my grasp. There was an explosion, and the Bullman was sent flying away, his horns snapping from the impact.
"Thanks for the save, Baku-" Before I could finish my sentence, Bakugo tossed the scumbag's suit jacket onto me.
"I'll talk to the cops, so hurry up and get changed," he ordered, red-faced. I peered down and realized the entire front of the dress had been burned, leaving me exposed. I could feel my face heat up and tears forming. I wrapped myself and ran back to the shop, stopping halfway to toss my ruined shoes.
After changing back into my uniform and arguing with the store owner, who threatened to report me to the police for theft if I didn't pay for the dress I destroyed, I was now slumped over in the food court while Bakugo gave the report. I looked down at the bag of tattered cloth and felt the tears returning because now I was broke and still didn't have a dress for my date tonight. Why can't things just go my way for once?
"What a fucking shit show." A metal chair screeches next as Bakugo pulls it out to sit. "And what the fuck are you crying for?"
"I'm not crying," I sobbed. "I'm just frustrated because I finally found the perfect dress and ruined it."
"You mean that ugly shit you were wearing during the fight?"
"It was pretty before I screwed it up! Besides, what do you know about fashion anyway?" He snatched the bag from my hands and looked over the rags inside. He clicked his tongue, pulled me to my feet, and dragged me back to Ms. Chivus' shop. "Bakugo, I don't have any more mon-"
"Shut it, Pinky!" He let go of my wrist and stormed to the back of the store. Ms. Chivus looked between the two of us, and with a knowing smile, she handed him a showbox. Bakugo slammed the money on the counter and tossed the box at me. "Put them and let's go."
I removed the lid and felt my chest tighten. It was the heels the owner had saved for me. "I can't accept his!"
"You need shoes to walk back to campus in."
"Fine, but at least let me pay you back then."
"With what fucking money?" The guilt returned, and Bakugo let out an aggregated groan. He reaches for my wrist, and I pull away, tired of being dragged around. His brows furrow, and he storms to a nearby bench. "Sit your ass down." I don't like this either, but I do as he says.
He knelt in front of me and grabbed my ankle. I started to pull away, and he glared at me. I let out a sigh and nod for him to continue. He pulled out a pair of socks and slipped them on me before sliding the shoes over them. There was an intense focus on his face as he tied the laces, and I couldn't help but feel my heart race a little.
"How's that?" He asked, sounding almost cautious.
"It's perfect," I answered, dumbfounded. They were brand new, but they weren't tight, and the laces weren't loose enough to slide around either. I stood up and took a couple of practice steps and was amazed at how comfortable they were despite the unusual design. I was tempted to try a few dance moves but decided against it in the end.
"Good, now let's go."
The train back to U.A. was beyond awkward. Bakugo spent the entire time on his phone, occasionally texting someone. I couldn't tell what he was looking at, but whatever it was, it seemed to piss him off. He only put it down when we arrived at my dorm room.
"Can you at least tell me what you're planning?" I pleaded, unlocking the door. There was a little over an hour left until Eijiro was going to pick me up. I had the shoes, but that wasn't enough to stand out on a first date.
"I said I'd help you pick an outfit, and that's what I'm fucking doing." He threw the bag onto my bed and rummaged through my closet. "And hurry up and take a shower. You smell like vinegar." I wanted to melt him into a puddle, but I knew he was right. I had to start now if I wanted to be ready in time. I gave him one final look of suspicion before grabbing my shower supplies. I hope I don't regret this.
"Oh. My. God." I emphasized each word as I spoke.
"Will it work or not?" Bakugo asked.
"Will it work?" I did a twirl in front of my mirror, admiring the boy's handy work. "This is incredible!"
Bakugo salvaged the remains of the dress and sewed them to some leftover zebra print fabric I had in my closet to restore the front in a chic asymmetric design. He also added laces to the back to give off a sexual allure. He then repurposed a strap from one of my bags into a belt to hide the seams and make it more form-fitting. It all complimented the shoes he'd bought me.
The original dress was so beautiful. It was perfect. But this—this could only be described as me.
"How did you even know how to do all this?" I asked, confused.
"My folks are fashion designers," he said as if it should have been obvious. "I told the hag what happened, and she ran me through everything I'd need to fix your shitty dress. Can't believe I ended up using those sowing lessons." He groaned at that last part.
I'd recently taken up sewing and had stocked up on fabrics and tools, but I'd never have been able to pull something like this off, especially in how little time he had. "Thank you, Bakugo. I love it!" I threw myself around him, trying not to ruin my makeup.
"Get the fuck me!" Despite his tone, he made no move to push me away.
"You know, if you weren't such an asshole, I'm sure you'd make a girl really happy."
"What the hell are you going on about now?" This time, he did push me away. "I don't have time for bullshit like dating."
"Oh? Are you sure it isn't just that you've never had a girl be interested in you?"
"If I wanted a girl so badly," he placed his hand on my chin, tilting it up slightly, "I would do everything in my power to make her mine."
Why is he so close!? My chest is heavy, and I forget how to breathe. I know I should pull away, but those eyes just seem to suck me in. How have I never noticed just how red they were? Almost as red as….
He let me go and made his way out the door. "Good luck with your date, Pinky."