✰

The mission had been a success, but the aftermath was far from peaceful. The warehouse was in shambles, smoke curling from the scorched walls and debris scattered across the ground. The team regrouped outside, the cool night air biting against their sweat-drenched skin.

"Good job, everyone," Aizawa's voice was steady, though his sharp gaze scanned each of them for injuries. "We'll debrief back at U.A. Kirishima, Mina—help with cleanup. Bakugo, Y/N, you two head to the van and wait."

Bakugo opened his mouth to protest, but Aizawa's raised hand silenced him. "You've done enough damage for one night. Take a breather."

Y/N didn't have the energy to argue, her body aching from the battle. She glanced at Bakugo, who looked as if he might explode all over again but reluctantly stalked toward the van, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

She followed him, her steps heavy as adrenaline drained from her system. The silence between them was thick, punctuated only by the crunch of gravel under their boots.

As they reached the van, Bakugo leaned against the side, arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, his expression unreadable.

Y/N hesitated before speaking, her voice breaking the tension. "Thanks for... back there."

He glanced at her, his crimson eyes narrowing slightly. "What are you talking about?"

"You know," she gestured vaguely, "the whole saving-my-life thing. You didn't have to do that."

"Tch. Don't make a big deal out of it," he muttered, looking away. "If you'd been paying attention, you wouldn't have needed saving."

Y/N rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Of course. Typical Bakugo. Can't just take a compliment, can you?"

He didn't respond immediately, his jaw clenching as if he were debating whether or not to say something. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh. "Just... don't be stupid next time."

"Wow," she said dryly. "That almost sounded like concern."

"It's not," he snapped, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "I just don't want to deal with your corpse slowing me down."

Y/N laughed softly, shaking her head. "Whatever you say, Kacchan."

His eyes flicked to her at the sound of the nickname, and for a moment, there was something softer in his gaze. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual scowl.

They stood in silence for a while, the cool night air calming their frayed nerves. Y/N leaned against the van, her thoughts drifting back to the mission. She couldn't shake the image of Bakugo standing in front of her, shielding her with his body. It wasn't the first time he'd stepped in to protect someone, but this felt... different.

"You're quiet," Bakugo said suddenly, breaking her train of thought.

"Just thinking," she replied, glancing at him.

"About what?"

Y/N hesitated, unsure if she should say it. But something about the stillness of the moment made her feel bolder. "About you, I guess."

His eyes narrowed. "What about me?"

She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're not as heartless as you pretend to be."

Bakugo snorted, a sound halfway between amusement and annoyance. "Don't start thinking you know me, idiot."

"Maybe I do," she countered, tilting her head to study him. "I think you care more than you let on. You just don't know how to show it."

His glare intensified, but there was no real malice behind it. "You're full of crap."

"Maybe," she said with a grin. "But I'm not wrong."

Bakugo opened his mouth to retort, but the sound of approaching footsteps cut him off. Kirishima and Mina appeared, both looking exhausted but satisfied.

"All done!" Mina announced, her bright smile a stark contrast to her disheveled appearance. "You guys okay?"

"Fine," Bakugo grumbled, pushing off the van and heading toward the driver's seat without another word.

Mina raised an eyebrow at Y/N, her grin turning sly. "What's his deal?"

Y/N shrugged, trying to hide the warmth creeping into her cheeks. "Same as always."

"Sure," Mina said, clearly unconvinced.

The ride back to U.A. was quiet, everyone too tired to talk. Y/N sat in the back, her head resting against the window as she watched the city lights blur past. Every now and then, she caught Bakugo's reflection in the rearview mirror, his intense gaze focused on the road.

She couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind.

✰

By the time they arrived at the dorms, everyone was half-asleep. Y/N trudged toward her room, her muscles protesting every step. She was just about to collapse onto her bed when she heard a knock at her door.

Frowning, she opened it to find Bakugo standing there, his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Bakugo?" she asked, surprised. "What are you—"

He cut her off, his voice low and gruff. "You did okay today."

Y/N blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. "Uh... thanks?"

"Don't let it go to your head," he added quickly, his gaze darting away.

She smiled, a warm feeling blooming in her chest. "Goodnight, Kacchan."

He grunted in response, turning on his heel and disappearing down the hall.

As Y/N closed her door, she couldn't help but feel like something had shifted between them. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there.

And for the first time, she found herself looking forward to whatever came next.

✰

The following morning, the team was gathered in the common area of the dorms, the remnants of breakfast scattered across the table. Aizawa had called for a day off after their grueling mission, giving everyone a chance to relax and recover. The announcement was met with cheers, particularly from Mina, who was already scrolling through her phone for activities.

"Alright, we've worked hard," she declared, her pink hair bouncing as she leaned over the table. "We deserve some fun. Who's up for karaoke tonight?"

"Pass," Bakugo grunted from his seat in the corner, his eyes fixed on the cup of coffee in his hands.

"What else is new?" Mina teased, sticking her tongue out at him. "How about you, Y/N?"

Y/N barely had time to respond before the dorm door swung open, revealing a tall, broad-shouldered figure with messy, dark hair and an easy grin.

"Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late!"

Y/N's eyes widened as the newcomer stepped inside, his voice warm and familiar. "Hitoshi?"

Shinsou Hitoshi grinned at her, his violet eyes crinkling with amusement. "Long time no see, Y/N. Looks like you're still hanging out with this crazy bunch."

"Shinsou!" Y/N jumped up from her seat, a genuine smile lighting up her face as she approached him. The two exchanged a brief, friendly hug, their laughter echoing through the room.

"Wait a second," Kirishima interjected, looking between the two of them with interest. "You guys know each other?"

"Yeah," Shinsou replied, his arm draped casually over Y/N's shoulder. "We worked together during an internship last year. She's got some serious skills, this one."

"Oh, please," Y/N said, playfully swatting his arm. "You were the one carrying the team."

The exchange drew a chorus of "oohs" from Mina and Kirishima, while Bakugo's eyes narrowed dangerously from his corner. His grip on the coffee cup tightened as he watched the scene unfold, the vein in his temple throbbing.

Mina, ever the observant one, nudged Kirishima and whispered, "Someone's not happy about this."

"I can hear you, Pinky," Bakugo snapped, his voice low and menacing.

Mina only grinned, unbothered. "Oh, I know."

A few hours later, Mina's insistence won out, and the group found themselves at a nearby pool for some team-building fun. The water sparkled under the midday sun, the chatter and laughter of other students filling the air.

Y/N emerged from the locker room in a simple but flattering swimsuit, adjusting the straps as she walked toward the pool. Mina was already there, lounging on a chair with oversized sunglasses and a fruity drink in hand.

"You look great, babe!" Mina called out, winking.

"Thanks!" Y/N replied with a laugh, her gaze sweeping the pool area. She spotted Shinsou on the diving board, preparing to jump, while Bakugo stood off to the side, his arms crossed and a deep scowl etched on his face.

"Come on, Bakugo!" Kirishima called from the water. "Lighten up and join us!"

"I'm fine right here," Bakugo growled, his eyes flicking briefly to Y/N as she dipped her toes into the water.

Shinsou swam over to her, a lazy grin on his face. "Hey, Y/N. Want to team up for a race? We'd crush these guys."

"Absolutely," she said, her smile wide. "Let's show them how it's done."

As they moved to the starting line, Bakugo's jaw clenched, his irritation bubbling dangerously close to the surface. He watched as Shinsou leaned in to whisper something to Y/N, causing her to laugh. The sound grated on his nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

Mina, floating nearby on a pool noodle, took note of Bakugo's expression and decided to stir the pot. "Looks like Shinsou's pretty good with Y/N, huh?"

"Shut it," Bakugo snapped, his voice sharp.

"What's the matter?" Mina teased. "Jealous?"

Bakugo's glare could have melted steel. "Why the hell would I be jealous of that idiot?"

"Uh-huh," Mina said, unconvinced.

✰

The race ended with Y/N and Shinsou as the clear winners, their victory punctuated by high-fives and laughter. Shinsou playfully splashed her, earning another round of giggles.

"That's it," Bakugo muttered under his breath, shrugging off his shirt and storming toward the pool.

The sudden movement caught everyone's attention, and Mina whispered to Kirishima, "This is going to be good."

Bakugo climbed onto the diving board, his intense glare fixed on Shinsou. "Move, extra."

Shinsou raised an eyebrow, his expression calm but curious. "What's your problem?"

"You're in my way," Bakugo snarled.

Shinsou stepped aside with a smirk, clearly unfazed. Bakugo took a running leap off the board, executing a perfect cannonball that sent a massive wave crashing over everyone in the pool.

Y/N surfaced, sputtering and laughing as she wiped water from her face. "Really, Bakugo?"

He swam over to her, his expression unreadable. "What's your deal with that guy?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, genuinely confused.

"You've been hanging all over him all day," Bakugo said, his voice low and accusing.

Y/N blinked, her cheeks flushing. "He's just a friend, Bakugo. Why do you care?"

"I don't," he said quickly, though the intensity in his gaze told a different story. "I just think it's annoying."

"Well, sorry to annoy you," she shot back, rolling her eyes.

Bakugo's scowl deepened, but before he could respond, Shinsou swam over with an easy grin. "Everything okay here?"

"Piss off, Shinsou," Bakugo growled, positioning himself slightly in front of Y/N.

Shinsou raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get territorial."

The comment made Y/N's face heat up, and she quickly swam toward the edge of the pool. Bakugo followed, his expression a mixture of frustration and something else she couldn't quite place.

As she climbed out of the pool, she turned to him and said, "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And you're clueless," he shot back, though his voice lacked its usual bite.

For a moment, their eyes locked, and the world seemed to fade around them. Y/N's breath hitched as she saw something flicker in his gaze—something raw and unguarded.

But just as quickly, he looked away, his usual scowl returning. "Don't drown or anything," he muttered before walking off.

Y/N watched him go, her heart pounding in her chest.