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The day of the gala was quickly approaching, and the entire team was running around, preparing for what was expected to be the biggest event of the year. Y/N and Bakugo had worked together for days now, the tension and awkwardness that had initially surrounded them slowly giving way to a more functional—if still volatile—partnership. The team was now in the final stretch of preparations, and the entire atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.

Y/N stood in front of a mirror in the dressing room, adjusting the delicate fabric of her gown. The dress was simple yet elegant, with a deep shade of emerald that brought out the brightness in her eyes. Her long hair cascaded in waves down her back, and she could feel the weight of the evening's anticipation pressing on her chest.

She caught a glimpse of herself, and for a moment, she thought she looked like someone else—someone more put together, more poised than the usual bubbly and chaotic version of herself. But as she finished smoothing out the last wrinkle, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread building up in her stomach. She wasn't nervous about the gala itself, but about one particular person.

"Are you almost ready?" Mina's voice broke through her thoughts, and Y/N turned to see her friend standing in the doorway, dressed in a sparkly, purple gown. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she had a grin plastered on her face.

"I think so," Y/N said, trying to steady her breath. "I just keep thinking about how weird it's going to be... with Bakugo."

Mina laughed softly, leaning against the doorframe. "You two have been spending so much time together lately. I thought maybe you'd have gotten used to him by now."

Y/N gave a short laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah, well, he's still Bakugo. I don't think anyone can ever get used to him."

Mina's smile softened, and she stepped further into the room. "You know, I think he's starting to warm up to you. Just look at the way he's been acting lately—less grumpy, more... I don't know, polite?"

Y/N sighed, picking at the edge of her dress. "I don't know, Mina. It's hard to tell with him. One minute, he's the same old Bakugo, and the next... well, he does something that throws me off. Like he's trying to say something, but he's too stubborn to actually say it."

Mina's smile turned into something more mischievous. "Well, you're not the only one who's noticed that. The rest of the Bakusquad has been talking about it too. Kirishima especially keeps saying he thinks Bakugo's got a thing for you."

Y/N froze for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. "Wait, what?"

Mina's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Oh, you didn't know? Kirishima's been dropping hints. I don't know if it's obvious to you, but it sure is to us."

Y/N swallowed, unsure of how to process this information. Could Bakugo actually feel something for her? She thought back to their interactions, the rare moments of softness between them, the way he seemed to genuinely care, even if he was too proud to show it.

Before she could think more on it, there was a knock at the door. "Yo, are you done yet?" Bakugo's voice rang out from the other side. His tone was as brusque as ever, but something about the way he said it made Y/N's heart skip a beat. She wasn't sure if it was the simple fact that he'd come to check on her or if there was more to it.

"I'm almost ready!" Y/N called out, her voice coming out a little more flustered than she'd intended.

Mina, sensing her friend's nervousness, smirked. "Well, I'm heading out. I'll let you two figure things out." With that, she gave Y/N a wink and practically skipped out of the room.

Y/N sighed deeply, trying to collect herself. She wasn't sure what to expect from Bakugo tonight, but she could feel the weight of the evening pressing on her. She adjusted her dress one last time before opening the door.

Bakugo was standing in the hallway, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, his hair styled neatly for once. He looked... different. Dressed up, polished, but still undeniably Bakugo. The usual scowl was on his face, but his eyes lingered on her for just a moment longer than usual.

"You look... fine," he muttered, his eyes quickly flickering away. It wasn't much, but there was a strange softness in his tone that made Y/N's heart flutter.

"Thanks," she said, feeling her cheeks heat up. "You look good too."

Bakugo grunted, clearly not used to receiving compliments, but there was a faint pinkness creeping up his neck. "Let's just get this over with," he said gruffly. "We've got a gala to attend, and I'm not gonna waste my time standing around here."

Y/N couldn't help but laugh at his usual bluntness. She stepped past him and into the hallway, trying to calm the nervous fluttering in her stomach. As they made their way down the stairs, the sounds of chatter and laughter filled the air. The rest of the team had already gathered, dressed to the nines, and the atmosphere was charged with excitement. But through all the noise, Y/N's attention remained on Bakugo, noticing the way he walked beside her, a little more quietly than usual.

The gala was held in a large ballroom on the UA campus, its walls adorned with sparkling lights and elegant decorations. There were students from other schools, heroes and pro-heroes alike, mingling around. But despite the grand setting, Y/N felt an almost magnetic pull between her and Bakugo.

They made their way to a table where the rest of the team was already seated. Kirishima and Mina were laughing, while Todoroki was his usual reserved self, sipping on a drink. Bakugo and Y/N sat next to each other, and there was an almost palpable tension between them as the night went on.

They didn't talk much, only exchanged the occasional remark about the event, but there was something in the air that made everything feel different. It wasn't just the elaborate setting, the decorations, or the glamour. It was the way they kept stealing glances at each other, the subtle hints of attraction growing between them.

At one point, Y/N was standing by the buffet table when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to find Bakugo standing just behind her, holding two glasses of sparkling juice.

"Here," he muttered, handing one of the glasses to her. "Don't say I'm not a gentleman."

Y/N smiled, accepting the drink. "Thanks," she said softly, not quite sure how to respond. The warmth in his eyes made her heart skip a beat, and she couldn't help but wonder if this night might be the one where everything changed between them.

"Hey bakugo... I-"

Before Y/N could say anything else, Kirishima bounded over to them, his grin wide. "Hey! You guys look amazing! This night is gonna be epic!"

Y/N was grateful for the interruption, as the sudden tension between her and Bakugo had begun to feel suffocating. She managed to smile and exchange pleasantries with the group, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted in the air between her and Bakugo.

As the evening progressed, the gala became a blur of conversations, laughter, and dancing. Y/N found herself slipping in and out of various circles, exchanging pleasantries with the other students and heroes in attendance. She was enjoying herself, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Bakugo.

She had seen him talking to Kirishima and Mina at one point, his usual intensity in full force, but there was something different about him tonight. He wasn't scowling as much, and his posture seemed less rigid. He looked more relaxed than she had ever seen him, though he still had a certain air of unapproachable confidence.

At one point during the evening, the music shifted, and a slow, elegant song filled the room. Couples began to form on the dance floor, moving gracefully to the rhythm of the music. Y/N stood off to the side, watching the dancers, feeling a bit self-conscious. She wasn't exactly the dancing type, and she had never been good at it.

That's when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

Turning around, she found Bakugo standing there, looking a little less sure of himself than usual. He shifted on his feet, his hands tucked into his pockets as he glanced away, his cheeks tinged with a faint flush.

"Dance with me," he muttered, though the words seemed almost reluctant, as if he wasn't entirely sure what had come over him.

Y/N blinked, surprised. "What?"

"You heard me," Bakugo said, his voice slightly firmer now, though there was still a hesitation in his eyes. "Just... come on. It's a damn gala. You should at least have one dance."

For a moment, Y/N just stared at him, unsure of what to make of his sudden offer. But then, as she looked at his outstretched hand, she realized she couldn't bring herself to say no. There was something about the way he was standing there—so much less arrogant, so much more vulnerable—that made her heart flutter in her chest.

"Alright," she said, finally taking his hand. "But don't expect me to be good at this."

Bakugo smirked. "You won't be any worse than me."

They made their way to the dance floor, and the moment they started moving to the music, Y/N couldn't help but feel awkward. She wasn't exactly the most graceful person, but Bakugo's presence was grounding in a way she hadn't expected. He wasn't a natural dancer either, but there was something about his movements—his strength, his confidence—that made him seem like he belonged there.

For the first few minutes, there was a comfortable silence between them. Neither of them said much, and Y/N could feel her nerves easing as they moved in sync to the slow melody. Bakugo's hand was firm around hers, but there was something gentle about the way he guided her, his eyes never leaving hers.

Eventually, she found herself relaxing, her body moving more naturally in time with the music. There was a strange tension between them, not in a bad way, but in a way that felt like it was pushing them closer together. She could feel the warmth of his hand on her back, his body just a little too close to hers, and for the first time that night, she realized how aware she was of him. She had always noticed him before, but this felt different. More intimate.

As they swayed together, Y/N couldn't help but glance up at Bakugo's face. He looked different, softer somehow, like he was fully present in the moment. For a brief second, their eyes locked, and she felt the world around them fade away. The tension, the uncertainty, all of it melted into a quiet understanding.

Neither of them spoke, but there was an unspoken connection, something deeper than anything they'd shared before. It was a fleeting moment, but it felt like it meant more than words could say.

As the song drew to a close, Y/N couldn't help but smile softly. Bakugo didn't say anything at first, but his usual scowl had been replaced with something that resembled a small, reluctant grin.

"Not bad," he muttered, clearly trying to downplay the moment.

Y/N chuckled. "You weren't too bad yourself."

They broke apart, but neither of them seemed eager to leave the dance floor. Instead, they lingered for a moment, the tension still hanging in the air between them. It wasn't the kind of tension that made her uncomfortable, though. It was something more. Something new.

And for the first time in a long while, Y/N didn't feel the need to run from it.

The night of the gala had been filled with excitement, glitz, and an undeniable tension between Y/N and Bakugo. As the evening wound down and the crowd began to disperse, Y/N found herself walking away from the festivities with a sense of warmth that had been lingering ever since her dance with Bakugo. Something had changed between them, but she couldn't quite place it. There was an undercurrent of unspoken words and quiet moments that still echoed in her mind. She couldn't shake the feeling that the night had shifted something in their relationship, even if they hadn't acknowledged it.

She stepped outside into the cool night air, the faint sounds of the gala's music still playing in the background. She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts, taking in the stillness of the evening. The stars above were barely visible through the city lights, but the cool breeze brought a sense of peace.

That's when she felt a familiar presence behind her.

"Shouldn't you be inside?" Bakugo's voice called out, sounding as gruff as always. But this time, there was a trace of something else—something softer.

Y/N turned around to find him standing a few steps away, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His tie had been loosened, and his suit jacket was thrown over his arm, but his usual fiery presence was still unmistakable.

"I could ask you the same thing," Y/N replied, trying to sound casual. But her heart was beating a little faster now, the weight of their earlier interaction at the dance still fresh on her mind.

Bakugo's gaze flickered over to her, and for a brief moment, it felt like the world around them had paused. There was something about his stare that made Y/N feel both exposed and understood, but she couldn't quite figure out why.

"I needed a breather," he muttered, his voice quieter than usual. "That gala stuff isn't really my scene."

Y/N nodded in understanding. "Yeah, me neither. It was fun, but... yeah, I get it."

They stood there in silence for a few moments, both of them unsure of what to say next. Y/N wanted to say something—anything—that would bridge the gap between them, but she didn't know where to begin. Her mind raced with thoughts of the dance they had shared, the way their hands had felt together, the way his gaze had lingered on her. But she pushed those thoughts away, unwilling to dive into something that felt too complicated.

Finally, Bakugo broke the silence again.

"You were... different tonight," he said, his tone rough but not unkind. "I didn't expect you to—" He paused, seemingly unsure of how to finish the sentence.

Y/N glanced at him, meeting his gaze for the first time since their dance. There was a flicker of something there—something more than just the usual annoyance he showed her. She swallowed, her heart racing.

"I wasn't really expecting it either," she admitted softly, her voice more vulnerable than she intended. "I guess I'm just... tired of pretending like I don't care about all of this. The gala, the people, everything."

Bakugo didn't say anything for a long moment, and for a brief second, Y/N wondered if she'd said too much. But then he took a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at her with that familiar intensity.

"You're not the only one," he muttered, his voice almost too soft to hear. "I don't exactly fit in with all the hero nonsense either. But... sometimes, you gotta play the game."

Y/N let out a quiet laugh. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Bakugo shifted his weight, as if the silence between them was becoming uncomfortable. He glanced around briefly, his usual bravado returning.

"You're not as annoying as I thought you were," he said, his voice almost a growl. But there was a strange softness beneath it.

Y/N raised an eyebrow, catching the hint of something more in his words. "Thanks, I think?"

Bakugo didn't respond to that, but there was a strange tension hanging in the air between them—something neither of them could ignore any longer. For once, the walls between them felt thinner, as though they were no longer just a hero and a sidekick forced to coexist. Instead, they were two people who had been pushed together, their vulnerabilities exposed in ways they hadn't expected.

"Listen, about the dance..." Y/N began, but Bakugo interrupted her.

"I didn't mind it," he muttered, his eyes averted. "I wasn't exactly thrilled about it, but... it wasn't bad."

Y/N smiled softly. "Good to know."

There was a quiet pause, and for a moment, it seemed like they might drift back into their usual routine of teasing and ignoring the deeper feelings beneath the surface. But something had shifted between them, and it was hard to deny it.

"Bakugo," Y/N started, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you so difficult sometimes?"

He stiffened at the question, but didn't pull away. "I'm not difficult."

"You are," she said with a small laugh, but it was clear there was no malice behind it. "You just... make things harder than they need to be."

Bakugo didn't answer for a long time, but there was something in his gaze now—something she couldn't quite decipher.

"I don't like people getting too close," he muttered finally, his words quieter than before. "It's easier this way. Keeps things simple."

Y/N nodded slowly. "I get that," she said softly, looking down at her feet. "But maybe... it's not always so bad to let people in."

Bakugo let out a frustrated sigh. "Don't get any ideas. I'm not changing anytime soon."

Y/N couldn't help but smile at his words, but there was a warmth in her chest that hadn't been there before. "I wasn't expecting you to. But... maybe you don't have to push everyone away all the time."

For a long moment, Bakugo stared at her, and Y/N couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his head. She had always known he was complicated—someone who didn't let his guard down easily—but tonight, there was something in his eyes that told her he was starting to let her in, even if just a little.

"I don't need anyone," Bakugo said quietly, but this time, Y/N heard the vulnerability in his voice. He wasn't speaking with his usual bravado, but rather with something raw and real.

Y/N took a step closer to him, her heart racing. "That's not true, Bakugo. You've always had people who care about you. You just... don't want to admit it."

Bakugo didn't say anything in response, but Y/N could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw clenched as if he were fighting against something he didn't want to face. For the first time in a long while, Y/N realized that beneath all the tough exterior, Bakugo was just as human as she was. He had fears, doubts, and insecurities. And in that moment, she understood him in a way she never had before.

She stepped back, her smile soft and understanding. "You don't have to figure everything out right now, Bakugo. Just... don't push everyone away. Not all the time."

Bakugo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned away, his usual scowl returning as he muttered, "I'll think about it."

Y/N watched him for a moment, feeling a strange sense of hope rising in her chest. She didn't know what would happen between them, but she was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, there was more to their connection than she had ever realized.

As Bakugo walked away, Y/N let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She wasn't sure where this path would lead, but one thing was clear—there was no going back. They were both standing at the edge of something new, and for the first time, neither of them was quite sure what it would look like when they crossed it.