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The sky was still dark when your alarm blared, jolting you awake. You groaned, smacking the snooze button before rolling back over. Today was the day—your first mission with Team Alpha.

"Why does it have to be so early?" you muttered, reluctantly dragging yourself out of bed.

Your phone buzzed on your desk. You grabbed it, seeing a message from Mina waiting for you.

Private Text Between Mina & Y/N

Mina: Morning, sunshine! Ready to tackle your first mission?
Y/N: If by "ready," you mean half-asleep and contemplating skipping, then yes.
Mina: LOL, no skipping! You've got this. Besides, Bakugo would have a field day if you were late.
Y/N: And that's exactly why I should stay in bed.
Mina: Nah. I need updates. Drama. Tea. You can't let me down.
Y/N: Fine. But if he starts yelling before sunrise, I'm done.

You couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. Mina always knew how to hype you up, even when the thought of spending hours with Bakugo made you want to scream.

By the time you made it to the courtyard, the team was already gathering. Most of your classmates looked as exhausted as you felt—except for Tenya, who stood at attention, radiating energy that could only come from a strict 9 p.m. bedtime.

"Good morning, everyone!" he called, clapping his hands together. "Let's ensure we're punctual and prepared for today's mission."

"Tenya," Denki whined, "it's too early for that much energy. Tone it down, dude."

"Agreed," you mumbled, rubbing your eyes. Mina appeared at your side, bright-eyed and grinning.

"Y/N!" she chirped. "You look awake-ish!"

"Don't lie to me," you said, stifling a yawn.

Before Mina could respond, Bakugo stormed into the courtyard, scowl firmly in place.

"You extras better not slow me down," he snapped, arms crossed as he scanned the group.

You rolled your eyes. "Good morning to you too, Sunshine."

His glare shot your way like a missile. "What'd you say to me?"

"She said 'good morning,' Bakugo!" Kirishima interjected quickly, throwing you an apologetic smile. "Let's all chill, yeah?"

"Chill? I'm perfectly chilled," you said, smirking at Bakugo. "Maybe someone else needs to learn how to relax."

Bakugo took a threatening step forward, his hands sparking. "You wanna say that again?"

"Enough," Aizawa's voice cut through the tension. The pro hero stood at the edge of the courtyard, his usual tired expression firmly in place. "Save your energy for the mission."

You and Bakugo exchanged glares but kept quiet. The team quickly fell into line as Aizawa began handing out assignments.

The simulated city was eerily quiet as your team navigated its streets. This was part of your hero training, designed to mimic real-life missions. You were tasked with locating "hostages" in a labyrinth of buildings, while robotic "villains" guarded every corner.

Despite the early hour, the adrenaline coursing through your veins kept you alert. Well, that, and the fact that Bakugo was practically breathing down your neck.

"Stay out of my way," he growled as you rounded a corner.

"I will if you will," you shot back.

"You're gonna screw this up, I can feel it."

"You know what, Bakugo? If you were half as good at teamwork as you are at complaining, this would be over by now."

His glare was fierce enough to rival the sun. "Don't test me, Y/N."

"Wouldn't dream of it," you said sweetly, though your tone was anything but.

"Guys, come on," Kirishima said, stepping between you. "Let's just focus on the mission, okay?"

"Whatever," Bakugo muttered, shoving past you to take point.

You let him go, not missing the way his shoulder brushed against yours—intentionally, no doubt.

The first wave of "villains" attacked without warning. Foam darts flew through the air as Bakugo's explosions lit up the street. You darted between buildings, using your quirk to neutralize threats from a distance.

"Behind you!" you shouted, sending a blast of energy past Bakugo to take out a hidden target.

He turned, looking momentarily surprised. "Tch. Don't expect me to thank you."

"Wouldn't dream of it," you said, smirking.

The two of you moved in sync after that, though you'd never admit it out loud. His raw power created openings that made your attacks more effective, and your precision covered his blind spots.

By the time you reached the mission's final stage, you were exhausted but determined. The "hostages" were inside a large building, its entrance blocked by a swarm of robots.

"I'll take care of this," Bakugo said, stepping forward.

"Excuse me?" you said, crossing your arms. "This is a team mission, in case you forgot."

"Yeah, and the team doesn't need dead weight."

You opened your mouth to argue, but the robots attacked before you could get a word out. Bakugo charged forward, explosions flying, while you used your quirk to create barriers for the others.

Despite the chaos, you couldn't help but admire the way Bakugo fought. His attacks were powerful, precise, and devastatingly effective. Not that you'd ever tell him that.

"Try to keep up, Y/N!" he shouted over the noise.

"Oh, don't worry about me," you said, launching a counterattack that cleared the area. "I'm doing just fine."

When the mission finally ended, you collapsed onto a nearby bench, sweat dripping down your forehead. Bakugo sat a few feet away, looking just as worn out but refusing to show it.

"Not bad," you said, glancing at him.

He scoffed. "Don't let it go to your head."

"Too late."

Back at the dorms, you sprawled out on your bed, phone in hand. Messages from Mina started flooding in immediately.

Private Text between Mina & Y/N

Mina: Mission update, please!
Y/N: We didn't kill each other, so I'm calling it a win.
Mina: OMG, any spicy moments?
Y/N: If by spicy, you mean him yelling at me for half the mission, then sure.
Mina: LOL, sounds like progress!

Across the hall, Bakugo scowled at his phone as Kirishima sent him yet another message.

Private Text Between Kirishima & Bakugo

Kirishima: Soooo... how'd it go?
Bakugo: Fine.
Kirishima: Fine? That's it? No yelling?
Bakugo: She didn't screw up, okay?

Kirishima grinned, deciding not to push further.

The day ended with a strange mix of satisfaction and frustration. You couldn't get Bakugo's words—or the way he'd grudgingly acknowledged your skills—out of your head.