Chapter Text
Monday
To-Do List: Go on an unforgettable date x
Have the worst date known to man ✔
"So you're going on this date again because why?" A soft smile grew on my face as I struggled to put in my earring in the mirror.
"Because for the first time since I was four somebody actually seems interested in me." My eyes followed the reflection of one of my best friends sitting on my couch behind me as they sprawled out and consumed the entire area. "Didn't I ask you not to put your feet up on my couch, Kirishima?"
He let out a puff of laughter before waving his hand dismissively. He leaned his head against the armrest and stretched out completely across the couch, his feet resting on the opposite end. I always forget how tall my friends are. Rolling my eyes, I finished putting in the earring before turning around to face the man in front of me. "Well...What do you think?" Kirishima's eyes locked onto me, his bright red irises widening as he took me in from head to toe. The intensity of his gaze created a knot in my stomach, making me feel shy and flustered under his scrutiny. The heat in his stare was foreign. It was something that I had never seen from him before. To be honest, it worried me. "Eiji...Y-You're staring."
But his eyes never stopped looking at me. It felt like an eternity as he lingered on every detail he caught sight of. His gaze roamed over me as if I were some kind of princess at a ball. It would have been a wonderful feeling if it hadn't left such a strange sensation in my gut. He blinked a few times, then slightly shook his head, as if trying to shake off whatever thoughts were in his mind. Finally, he nodded in approval at me. "You look really pretty in that dress." My cheeks warmed at his comment.
"You think so?"
"Of course," he replied as he stood up and closed the space between us. "I mean, any guy would be the luckiest man in the world if they got to see you like this." I couldn't help but smile at his promising words. "Let's not forget the finishing touch, though." He reached over toward my dresser and pulled out a simple, elegant necklace that was given to me by my grandmother before she passed. It was lightweight but a perfect addition to the night. Holding it up, Kirishima spun me around so I was facing the mirror again as I pulled back my hair just enough to give him space to clip the necklace into place.
I watched carefully as he moved his hands in front of me, grabbed both loose ends of the chain, and secured it in place around my neck. My hair dropped down as I fixed myself up in the mirror, all the while Kirishima was watching me closely as I grazed my fingers over the necklace. Since when did he start standing too close to me?
"Who's this guy you're going out with again?" he asked, his voice sounding gentle but curious.
"Oh, just some guy from one of my classes," I said, like it was no big deal. "We've talked a bit, actually, between classes and lunch, and he asked me out the other day. So...Now I'm going out with him."
"But what's his name?" he asked again, poking my side with his finger.
I giggled as I stepped away and went to grab my phone. "Monoma."
"Monoma?" I nodded my head. "Isn't he the guy who's constantly bickering with everyone about how pathetic they are, and how he's better than everyone else?"
"Don't tell me you don't want me to go out with this guy because he messed with you and Bakugo a few times," I said as I placed my hands on my hips.
"A few times? The guy practically messes with us on a daily basis. And I'm sure he's doing it on purpose to impress you." I rolled my eyes. "(Y/n), I'm just making sure he'll be good for you."
"You're not my dad, Eiji. I can choose who I want to be with."
"And I'm not saying you can't," he defended as his voice stayed soft. "I'm just reminding you that if something does happen, you can talk with Bakugo and me about it."
"Yes, I know. You guys are literally right across the hall from me." The look in Kirishima's eyes didn't falter. He continued to stare me down like any wrong move would set him off. "Oh my god, Eiji. If I text you guys about it tomorrow during class, will that make you happy?"
He huffed a breath. "I'd much rather you tell us right after."
My head turned toward the clock, seeing it read 7:41 pm. "You'll be asleep before I get back. But Bakugo might still be up by then."
"Yeah, right," he barked a laugh. "The dude is asleep by at least 8:30. So you better hope this date goes well enough for the loser to give you a ride home." I punched his arm in retaliation, but it ultimately resulted in my own hand aching as I winced in pain. Kirishima laughed. "When's he supposed to pick you up?"
"Any minute now. He said he'd text me at least by 7:45 when he was on his way up." Kirishima nodded in understanding, clearly grasping that this was something I wanted.
I stared up at Kirishima to find that his eyes had softened when they landed on my face. He was always so gentle around me and always toyed with me every chance he got. But this was the first time I had ever seen him act so differently. All the years I had known him, I had never seen him act like this. I took a half step closer toward him, gently grabbing his wrist as I asked, "Are you sure you're okay with me going out?"
The gentle look in his eyes was enough to make my heart melt. He forced a quiet laugh before gently holding my fingers. "Yeah. Go out and have fun. I can't stop you from living your life. I only want what's best for you. You are my best friend after all."
"More than Bakugo?"
"So much more," he mumbled, and I cracked a loud laugh.
Our laughter slowly died down as I slowly came to realize that it was getting near when I would officially start my date. Clearing my throat, I pulled my hand from Kirishima's as I took a step back. I could've sworn his fingers tried reaching out for mine. "You should probably get going. It'll look really bad if I start my date off with another guy in my apartment."
Kirishima stood like a statue for a moment, as if he refused to let me leave his sight for the rest of the night. But the forced nod as he walked over toward my bedroom door was enough to bring me back to reality. I could hear his footsteps retreating toward my entryway door as the clicking of his shoes bounced off every wall and surface around him. I watched as he opened the door and smiled at me with that oh-so-sweet smile—it looked pained.
"Have a good time on your date, (Y/n)."
~~~
"I don't think I told you how beautiful you look today." Monoma helped me sit in the chair at the restaurant we decided to try out, and a light blush came to my cheeks at his compliment.
"Thank you. You look really handsome."
"As I always do," he cockily replied, but I brushed it off as playful flirting. Monoma was in casual wear, a simple white shirt and classy black dress pants with his hair slicked back by some sort of fancy gel. It was the most engaging he's ever looked since the first time we met, and I was honestly wondering if it was a genuine attempt at presenting himself or if he didn't care all that much. "So, how are things with you?"
"Pretty good, all things considered," I replied as I felt my fingers twitch in my lap. "Although this is the first time I've actually dared to go on a date with somebody."
Monoma laughed. "Thought you'd at least gone out with those losers you call your friends."
That made me pause for a moment to register what he just said. "Sorry?"
"You know, the two guys you're always hanging around. The one with the red, spiky hair that keeps showing off his muscles after working out and calls everybody a man. And that other guy, the one with the explosive anger issues and looks like a cat strangling another cat."
Wow. Harsh. Was that really how he saw my two best friends? "You mean Kirishima and Bakugo?"
"I honestly don't know why you hang around with them so much," he continued, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, what do you have in common with either of them? Better yet, what do they get out of the relationship?"
"Okay, I don't want this to sound rude, but you shouldn't judge what my choices are on the people I like hanging around with," I said with bold sincerity. "If you remember, I told you I didn't have many friends growing up. After I moved around so much, I finally found a proper home here in Musutafu. Kirishima was the first person I met, and he protected me from those mean boys at the start of high school. Bakugo was his best friend, so we became close quickly, too. I'm sorry that you don't like them all that much for reasons I'm sure are understandable to you, but for me, they're the best thing to happen to me. I wouldn't change anything regarding them."
Monoma was quiet as he listened to me, almost like he was deciphering what I was explaining to him.
"So please, don't call them losers. They're good guys."
"I'm sure they are," Monoma replied, but I couldn't hear the true sincerity behind his voice. I wasn't sure if he was being truthful about what he said. The air around us felt different now. It wasn't like how it had been back at school, where we would joke and laugh. Now it felt tense, uneasy, cold. Some of what Kirishima was talking to me about earlier started coming to mind, making me wonder if I should've listened to his advice. If you'd even call it advice. "Hey. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings about them. I understand they mean a lot to you. It just..."
"What?"
"If things work out between us, I would've gotten scared you'd have other guys who would try to keep me away from you." I watched as he started pulling his phone out when it started vibrating.
"If things worked out?" I asked, confused by what he meant. "You mean like-"
"Maybe you could've been my girlfriend after this," he said casually, while texting on his phone.
What!?
"Good evening. What can I get started for you tonight?" I jumped slightly when I turned my head to see that our waiter had walked up to our table and was looking at the two of us. I was so lost in thought about what Monoma said that I completely forgot that we were in a public setting with actual people around us.
I attempted to look through the menu to see what options were available, trying to calm the warming of my cheeks and neck as I felt embarrassed by what just happened. I recommended that we try out something that wasn't too expensive, considering we were both still in school, but looking at the prices for even the smallest thing was making my savings scream in agony. The drinks were too much, the food was too much, everything was too much. Before anything could come to mind, it seemed that Monoma had beaten me to the decision-making as he ordered for both of us. "How's your sake?" He asked without looking up from his phone.
"Monoma!"
"What?" he asked like it was nothing.
"We shouldn't be drinking sake on a first date."
He laughed it off as he added, "Don't be a square (Y/n)." Oh. How that left an uneasy twinge in my chest at how he said that. "We're here to have a good time, aren't we?"
I huffed a breath as I straightened myself in my chair before gently smiling at the waiter. "Can you give us a moment?"
"Of course," the waiter said, quickly scurrying away to avoid the awkward confrontation they had to witness. As soon as they were out of earshot, I snapped my attention back on Monoma, who had his eyes back down on his phone and was smiling at whatever was on the screen.
"What the hell?" I asked him, to which he just shrugged his shoulders. "I thought we agreed this was going to be a casual first date? Not anything too crazy."
"Hey, you wanted to go on this date with me in the first place, sweet-cheeks," he taunted as he pulled his eyes from his phone to look back at me. "Therefore, I get to choose what goes on."
I huffed at him. "But I still get to make a choice on what I want to drink, though," I added. "Besides, we shouldn't be drinking anyway if you'll be driving."
He released this exaggerated sigh so dramatically that I would've mistaken this whole date as a theatrical performance. "And here I thought you'd be fun to hang out with. Turns out you're just as annoying as everyone pins you as."
"Excuse me?"
"And here's a thought. I bet you're just another bimbo waiting to find another victim." That made my face grow red with anger. My knuckles clenched underneath the table as he continued. "You know, I only agreed to go on this date with you because you're hot as fuck, and I was hoping to score at the end of the night. But we didn't even have to get drinks to show up before I saw what you truly were."
"How dare you."
"How dare I? How dare you. You're the one who'll eventually lead me on just so I can give you attention. Because that's all those jocks of friends you have to do anyway. They're waiting around for you to blow them and move on-"
"You're an asshole."
"Yeah, maybe I am. But at least I ain't no skank." He went right back to texting on his phone as I sat across from him, wondering how we were on this date for not even five minutes before it went to shit. I could feel tears welling in my eyes, but I tried blinking them away as I stood up and grabbed my things.
Without uttering a single word to Monoma, I swiftly turned on my heel and made my way toward the restroom—more like a desperate sprint to escape the stinging threat of tears. I pushed the door open with urgency, glancing around to ensure the coast was clear. Once I confirmed the stalls were vacant, I locked the door behind me and pressed my back against it, feeling the cool surface against my skin as the first tear slipped down my cheek.
It was as if a dam had burst; sobs began to shake my entire body, each one deeper and more anguished than the last. Slowly, I sank to the tiled floor, my dress bunching up around me—a striking contrast to the turmoil within. The weight of ruined makeup smudged across my face only added to my dismay. How had I not seen the red flags? My date had transformed into a complete jackass right before my eyes. This had to be a new record for the worst date in human history, and all I could do was cry in this lonely restroom, surrounded by stalls that held secrets of past experiences.
My first experience with dates turned out to be a horrible disaster. I wanted nothing more than to disappear and sink into the floor. If Monoma only saw me as a catch to have his way with, then throw out, then what's the point in going out with anyone? Were all men like this? Or was it just him? And those comments he made about Kirishima and Bakugo. I knew they weren't true, but they were just as hurtful as if they were.
Wiping away the remnants of tears that had streaked my makeup, I fumbled for my phone, my heart racing as I glanced at the screen. It was just past 8 pm—a sliver of hope flickering in my chest that perhaps one of the boys was still awake. The thought of heading home filled me with a desperate longing, but the idea of sharing a ride with Monoma made my stomach churn. Paying for a ride felt equally unappealing.
Scrolling through my contacts, I scanned the few names like a lifeline, thoughts racing through my mind like a chaotic storm. Kirishima was definitely out for the night, his body likely exhausted from the day's classes. But Bakugo? He usually succumbed to sleep early, wrapped in his own world. Still, the comforting thought lingered that he had no early class tomorrow—it felt like a gamble worth taking.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, I pressed Bakugo's contact, watching as his caller ID lit up the screen. The photo, a snapshot I’d captured of him dozing on his couch with playful cat ears perched atop his head, brought a flicker of warmth to my heart. I pressed the phone to my ear, desperately trying to quell the sobs that threatened to resurface, forcing myself to breathe evenly.
As the rings echoed in the silence, doubt crept in. Would he pick up? His long day must have drained him. Just as I prepared for the call to slip into voicemail, I heard the unmistakable sound of the line being picked up. A faint rustling crackled across the line, followed by Bakugo's familiar gruff voice, a low rumble that resonated through my ear like thunder, piercing through the darkness that had enveloped me. "What?"
Bakugo sounded sleepy. I wondered if I had woken him. I felt like a piece of shit because of it.
I tried to calm my breathing, hoping my voice would come out steady so he wouldn't suspect anything. "B-Bakugo?"
"Shorty? Why are you calling me at this hour?" he asked, the usual irritated tone in his voice ever present even through the phone. I went to explain, but a faint sob escaped past my lips, and I prayed Bakugo didn't hear it. "You okay?"
Shit. "N-No..."
There was a long pause before I heard the rustling again. "Hey. What's wrong?" His voice had gotten softer now, and it was making my chest ache. Who knew he could be sweet.
"I-I..." My voice was shaking, and I couldn't hold back the tears as I felt myself break down once again. This time, Bakugo was with me. "I'm s-so sorry, Bakugo. I-I shouldn't have called you so late. I...I-It's just that...the date didn't...it didn't go so well."
"What happened?"
"I..." I couldn't get it out before another sob slipped past. "I hate to ask you this, but...can...can you pick me up?"
Bakugo paused, as if he needed time to process what I was asking of him. "That bad, huh?"
"Please? I just don't want to be here anymore."
"Hey. Don't worry. I'll be right over. What's the address?"
"Um..." I racked my brain trying to come up with the simplest response. "It's that small restaurant right outside the abandoned hero school."
Fumbling was heard on the other end, but Bakugo remained on the line the whole time. "Okay, I'm on my way-"
"Can you...stay on the line with me?" I asked, hoping I didn't sound pathetic.
"You idiot," he muttered, but it brought a smile to my face. "With you crying and pleading like that, how can I say no?" That made my heart swell in a way I hadn't expected. I didn't have a lot of time to think about what he meant by that before he said, "I should be there in about ten minutes."
I sniffled as I slowly started to stand up, my knees wobbling because of how much I was crying. "I'm so sorry to do this to you," I said again, my voice softer this time.
"Hey. You know I can't let my girl suffer through her first terrible date," he said with a feigned light-heartedness, though his voice betrayed an edge of irritation, typical of Bakugo. Despite that, a soft laugh escaped my lips, a sound that seemed to hang in the air for a moment. Little did I know, it brought a flicker of warmth to his expression, a subtle smile creeping onto his lips as he listened from the other end.
"First?" I asked. "You mean it'll happen again?"
"I'm not saying it will," he clarified. "But if it does, I don't care who the punk is, I'll rip his head off and shove his dick up his ass for making you cry." I heard the sound of keys jingling and a door closing, indicating that he had left his and Kirishima's apartment and was currently on his way. It made my heart flutter knowing he would risk a good night's sleep just to help me. "Wanna talk about it?"
"About what?" I asked as I moved over toward the sink and put Bakugo on speaker phone so I could wash my face. "About how Monoma changed his entire personality within seconds of us sitting down? Or how he talked shit about you and Kiri because you guys are my friends? Or called me a bimbo because I-"
"He called you what!?" Bakugo was so loud on the speaker that I was certain the entire restaurant heard him.
I sighed before leaning up against the counter. "Yeah. A bimbo. Because I have two guy friends that he thinks I'm dragging along by their dicks because god forbid a person is casually in a relationship with the opposite sex that is nothing more than friends."
"That counterfeit prick!" he growled. "Don't talk to the guy again, (Y/n). You hear me? You don't need someone like him ruining your life."
"Don't worry. I'm in the process of blocking his number and shoving a pole to join the one already up his ass," I mocked back.
Bakugo stayed true to his promise, his steadfast voice echoing in my ear as I waited anxiously, tapping my fingers against the cool bathroom counter. I could feel the knot of anticipation tightening in my stomach as I glanced at the clock, the seconds stretching into minutes, the minutes stretching into what felt like hours. Just as the thought of our call ending crossed my mind, I heard the familiar rumble of his engine outside the restaurant. Breathing a sigh of relief, I ended the call, slipped out of the bathroom, and navigated the softly lit interior to avoid being spotted.
As I stealthily maneuvered through the room, I caught sight of Monoma slouched at our table, his focus absorbed by the glow of his phone screen. Laughter bubbled uncontrollably from his lips, but his evident amusement felt like a sharp jab to my chest. He had the audacity to label me a bimbo, all while likely checking his social media for other girls, content in his rejection of our date. What a piece of work. I pushed through the front entrance and was greeted by the sight of a sleek black car that felt all too familiar.
Peering inside, I found Bakugo in the driver’s seat, his intense gaze fixed out the window as if waiting for my arrival. He wore grey sweats that hung comfortably from his frame and a loose, thin hoodie that I could only guess was a hand-me-down from Kirishima. His ashy-blonde hair was wild and unruly, a recognizable chaos that always elicited a warmth in my chest. Something was enchanting about that unkempt style; it felt like a mirror to his tumultuous spirit. Sliding into the passenger seat, I felt the weight of his stare on me, the intensity palpable as I averted my eyes, shame flooding through me like a wave. The awkward disaster of a date I had just escaped loomed in my thoughts, and I couldn’t bear to unravel it further in front of one of my closest friends.
Not only was my date the worst in history, but now I was leaving with another guy. The situation looked horrible, but part of me didn't care. Bakugo pulled away from the restaurant as I stared out the window and wiped the last remaining tears that stained my skin.
"That dress is pretty on you," Bakugo muttered quietly, filling the space between us as I looked back at him. His eyes were on the road, but I caught him taking a few glances to help confirm what I heard from him. "Shame your date was too fucking stupid to see it."
"Thank you," I mumbled, feeling my face warm slightly as I turned away. I watched the buildings fly past us as Bakugo returned us to our apartment building.
"Can I ask a personal question, (Y/n)?"
"Yeah..."
"Why did you go out with that guy anyway?" he asked, his voice sounding genuinely concerned, but how the sentence was put together told me he was pretty annoyed by it. "You already knew he was a jackass."
"I don't know," I admitted, not sure why I felt compelled to do such a thing. "I guess it's because it was the first time anyone has taken any interest in me. I felt like I was desired for the first time in my life. If only I had known that he was just using me as a booty call to brag about."
Bakugo’s knuckles whitened around the steering wheel, tension radiating from him like heat waves on a scorching day. There was an intensity in his grip that sent a shiver down my spine—if we existed in a world where superhuman strength was commonplace, he could easily reduce the car’s interior to splinters with a mere flick of his wrist. Thankfully, reality had spared us that bizarre fate. It was a strange thought, almost as surreal as the fierce concern etched on his face—it was comforting to know how deeply he cared for me.
As we approached the parking ramp, the rumble of the engine echoed in the enclosed space before he expertly navigated the vehicle into a snug spot. With a quiet hiss, he turned off the ignition, and a shroud of silence enveloped us, the tension slowly dissipating.
We sat in silence for what felt like an eternity before he spoke. "You're not a booty call." My eyes turned back to look at him, but his eyes remained on the road as he spoke sincerely. "Any man who takes a look at you and sees you, dress or not, will see that you are so much more than that. You're strong, you're smart, you're nice— maybe to an annoying degree..." I laughed at that, seeing a smirk grow on his face. "You're beautiful. You're brave. You're desirable. Everything a person needs in this world, but what nobody truly deserves. You are better than everyone around you. So own that."
"Do you think I'm desirable?" I asked him, waiting to see his reaction. I have known Bakugo for almost five years, since the start of high school, and he was someone who I knew would never lie to me. I always find solace in the things he says. His head turned toward me, his eyes lingering on my face, tracing down toward my shoulders, my dress, and back up. The intensity behind his vermillion glare brought back a certain feeling in my gut that I felt earlier when Kirishima was helping me get ready.
"Yes," he said in a whisper, as if he didn't mean to say it. A simple answer, but it left all these new feelings swelling up inside me.
The tension between us was different. The atmosphere felt heavy. The air we breathed tasted different. And since when did Bakugo become so different? So aware?
I cleared my throat, trying to shoo away the swirl of emotions brewing in my mind as I grasped the handle of my door. "We should head up," I suggested, glancing at Bakugo, who nodded in agreement with a mild expression. As we made our way toward the elevator, I noticed that he positioned himself closer to me than I had anticipated. I couldn't help but wonder if it was his protective instinct surfacing, wanting to ensure I was alright after the chaos we had just experienced. Yet, beneath that thought lingered a different notion—something more intimate and electric.
We stepped inside the elevator, and the familiar, slightly cramped space enveloped us in an awkward silence. It's a truth universally acknowledged that elevators are among the most uncomfortable places to coexist with someone, no matter how well you know them. I took a deep breath, the cool air filling my lungs, as I watched the screen slowly count down the floors.
Bakugo stood next to me, his gaze averted, lost in thought. His hands were buried deep in the pockets of his dark hoodie, and the warm, sweet scent of caramel wafted from him like a comforting embrace, reminiscent of joyful visits to the carnival with candy apples spun in the air. I fought the temptation to steal a glance at his face, my eyes fixed on the flickering numbers overhead, anxiously counting down to our destination.
As the elevator chimed softly, the tension that had enveloped us seemed to dissipate like mist beneath the morning sun. A low sigh escaped my lips in relief as the doors slid open, revealing a stark hallway bathed in soft, muted light. Bakugo gestured for me to exit first, watching as I stepped into the corridor before trailing closely behind. I paused momentarily in front of my apartment door, stealing a glance back at him standing across from me in front of his own door. It felt as if time had frozen; he made no move to retreat into his space, lingering like a question hanging in the air between us.
"Thank you," I barely whispered as I gently smiled in his direction. "I-I didn't know what else to do, and I still feel bad for asking you to pick me up, but..." I looked back at him, seeing that he was waiting patiently for me to finish those troubling thoughts on my mind. "Just...thank you."
A smile fell back onto his lips as he gave me a casual shrug. "Doing my part."
"Your part?" I asked with a laugh threatening to bubble.
"As a friend. As someone who cares." A deep ache settled in my chest, but this time it was unlike anything I had felt before. It wasn’t the sharp sting of disappointment like when Monoma got under my skin; this sensation was enveloped in warmth, a comforting embrace that whispered it was okay to mess up. It was a feeling of safety, a quiet assurance that someone would be there to catch me if I fell.
With each heartbeat, I felt an unaccustomed courage swell within me, propelling my body forward before my mind could catch up. I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Bakugo's cheek, a fleeting brush of warmth that sent a rush of color cascading over his usually fierce features. He looked more flustered than a ripe tomato, his cheeks ablaze with an unexpected hue, and I could feel my own face mirroring the heat of the moment.
Panicking slightly, I quickly stepped back and turned towards my door, desperately fumbling with the lock, my heart racing as Bakugo continued to gaze at my back in astonishment. The air hung heavy with unspoken words, thick with the weight of what had just transpired.
"Night," I said quickly, looking back at Bakugo one last time before I closed the door to leave us in two separate worlds. My back slammed against the door as my heart raced so fast it vibrated my entire body. There was nothing in the universe that could explain what just happened, why I did such a stupid thing to Bakugo. Stupid, yet pleasant. And the look on his face left a satisfying feeling in my heart.
Tonight was a disaster of a date, the worst kind you could think of, but at least the night didn't end completely terrible. At least it couldn't get any worse.