✰

You opened your eyes to the sharp beep of your alarm clock, its red numbers glaring at you like a silent judge. 5:45 a.m. Too early for anything good, you thought as you dragged yourself out of bed. The faint light of dawn seeped through your curtains, promising a long day ahead.

Combat Team Alpha's first mission briefing was set for 7 a.m., and being late wasn't an option—not unless you wanted Aizawa breathing down your neck. After a quick shower and a barely satisfying granola bar, you threw on your uniform and slung your bag over your shoulder, heading out into the cool morning air.

By the time you reached the briefing room, the team was mostly gathered. Mina greeted you with her signature enthusiasm, practically bouncing as she waved you over. Kirishima, your ever-reliable older brother, was sitting beside her, grinning like the sun.

"Hey, Y/N! Ready for the first day?" he asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," you muttered, scanning the room. Kaminari was fiddling with his phone, and Mina was whispering something to Kirishima that made him chuckle. You took a seat beside her, your eyes drifting to the glowing roster displayed on the wall:

Combat Team Alpha Roster:
1. Katsuki Bakugo
2. Y/N Kirishima
3. Mina Ashido
4. Eijiro Kirishima
5. Denki Kaminari

Your stomach sank at the sight of Bakugo's name. Of course, you thought bitterly. Life wouldn't let you off that easy.

Your pessimistic musings were interrupted by the man himself. Bakugo stormed into the room with all the grace of an exploding grenade. His crimson eyes scanned the space until they landed on you, narrowing into a scowl.

"Figures they'd stick me with a bunch of extras," he muttered, just loud enough to ensure everyone heard.

"Nice to see you too, Bakugo," you replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Whatever," he grumbled, stomping to the front of the room and dropping into a chair with his usual flair for dramatics.

Before the tension could escalate further, the door creaked open, and Aizawa strolled in, his perpetually tired gaze silencing the room.

"Good," he said, scanning the group. "Everyone's here."

He tapped a button on the projector remote, pulling up a layout of a building labeled "Mock Villain Base."

"This is your first exercise as Combat Team Alpha," Aizawa began, his tone sharp and unyielding. "Your objective is to infiltrate the base, secure the hostages, and neutralize any threats. You'll work in pairs to cover more ground."

You were already bracing yourself when Aizawa began listing the pairs.

"Kirishima and Ashido, you're on the south wing. Kaminari, you're on standby for surveillance."

He turned his gaze to you and Bakugo, his expression unreadable.

"Y/N and Bakugo, you'll take the main entrance."

A collective silence fell over the room. Mina shot you a sympathetic glance, and Kirishima grimaced, clearly unsure whether to laugh or pray for your survival.

Bakugo smirked. "Guess they need someone competent to carry her."

You rolled your eyes. "Pretty sure I'll be carrying you, Explosion Boy."

Before Bakugo could retort, Aizawa raised a hand, his patience visibly thinning.

"Enough," he said. "You're a team now, so act like it. Dismissed."

The mock villain base loomed before you, its towering structure a maze of hallways and hidden dangers. You adjusted the strap of your gloves, glancing at Bakugo as he surveyed the building with a practiced eye.

"I'll take the lead," he announced, not even bothering to consult you.

"Of course you will," you muttered, falling into step behind him.

The entrance was heavily fortified with faux obstacles—foam darts rigged as traps, reinforced doors, and simulated guards armed with padded batons. Bakugo blasted through the first set of doors with an ease that almost made you impressed.

"See? Easy," he said, tossing a smug look over his shoulder.

"Don't get too comfortable," you replied, clapping your hands together to send a shockwave rippling through the hallway. The traps lining the walls went off harmlessly, their darts scattering to the floor. "I'm not here to babysit you."

"Babysit me? Tch. Dream on, dumbass."

Despite the constant bickering, you both moved with efficiency. His explosions cleared the way, while your shields kept any retaliatory attacks at bay. You hated to admit it, but your quirks complemented each other annoyingly well.

When you reached the final room—the one holding the simulated hostages—you could feel the tension in the air.

"Stay back," Bakugo ordered, stepping in front of you.

You snorted. "Excuse me? We're a team, remember?"

"Just don't get in my way."

Before you could argue, the door burst open, revealing a squad of simulated villains. They lunged forward, foam weapons raised, but you reacted instinctively, clapping your hands to send a shockwave that knocked half of them off their feet.

Bakugo didn't miss a beat, launching a series of explosions that sent the remaining villains sprawling.

By the time the dust settled, the hostages were safe, and the room was eerily quiet.

"You're welcome," you said, turning to Bakugo with a triumphant smirk.

He scoffed. "Like I needed your help."

"Pretty sure you did," you teased, enjoying the way his eye twitched in annoyance.

"Shut up."

Later that evening, you were sprawled out on your bed, reliving the day's events as you texted Mina.

Private Text between You and Mina

You: Survived my first mission with Bakugo. Barely.
Mina: Details, please! How bad was it?
You: He's bossy, arrogant, and impossible to work with.
Mina: Sounds like Bakugo, all right. But you completed the mission, right?
You: Yeah, somehow. We actually worked... well together. Don't tell him I said that.
Mina: You HAVE to tell him. He'd explode.

As you closed the chat, you found yourself smiling despite the frustration of the day. The road ahead would be challenging—especially with Bakugo on your team—but a small part of you was looking forward to the chaos.

This was only the beginning.

✰

The day after Combat Team Alpha's roster was announced, you were lounging in your room, scrolling through your phone when Mina's text popped up.

Private Text between You and Mina

Mina: Soooo, how was the briefing? Did Bakugo blow a fuse?
You: More like an entire power grid. He started arguing with Aizawa five minutes in.
Mina: Classic. What was it about this time?
You: "The plan is inefficient, and these extras are holding me back!"
Mina: LMAO, sounds like him. What did you do?
You: I smiled and told him to shut up. He didn't take it well.
Mina: Legendary behavior. Can't wait to see how this mission goes.

You couldn't either—though "can't wait" might not have been the phrase you'd use.

Later that night, the group chat pinged with Aizawa's no-nonsense energy.

Group Chat: Combat Team Alpha

Aizawa: Mission details are in your inbox. Read them carefully. We deploy tomorrow at 6 a.m. Don't be late.
You: 6 a.m.? This is cruel and unusual punishment.
Bakugo: Maybe if you weren't such a slacker, it wouldn't bother you.
You: Maybe if you weren't so loud, my mornings wouldn't start with a headache.
Kirishima: Can you two NOT fight for five minutes?
Mina: Y/N, you should set a timer: how long until Bakugo yells at someone tomorrow?
You: My money's on 30 seconds.
Bakugo: Keep talking, and you'll be the first target.

Meanwhile, Bakugo was airing his frustrations in another conversation.

Private Text between Bakugo and Kirishima

Kirishima: Bro, you've got to chill with Y/N.
Bakugo: She's annoying.
Kirishima: You think everyone's annoying. Give her a break.
Bakugo: Why should I?
Kirishima: Because she's new, and this mission's gonna be stressful enough without you making it worse.
Bakugo: Whatever

✰

By 5:45 a.m., you were trudging to the courtyard, bleary-eyed but determined to avoid giving Bakugo any ammunition. The rest of the team was already gathered, their energy levels varying. Mina greeted you with a sleepy grin, while Kirishima looked impossibly chipper. Bakugo, of course, was scowling at everyone.

Aizawa handed out the final instructions with his usual monotone efficiency.

"This mission is a scouting exercise with active engagement," he explained. "There's a Wraith infestation on the outskirts of the city. Your job is to clear the area and retrieve any civilians left behind. Work as a team. Don't screw this up."

Bakugo wasted no time asserting his authority.

"Stay out of my way, and we won't have a problem," he said, brushing past you as he adjusted his gloves.

You raised an eyebrow. "Maybe if you didn't have such a big ego, there'd be room for teamwork," you muttered just loud enough for him to hear.

His sharp glare told you he'd heard every word.

Group Chat: Combat Team Alpha

Mina: This mission hasn't even started, and I already feel the tension.
You: It's not tension. It's pure loathing.
Mina: Riiight, sure it is.
Kirishima: I'm officially changing my name to "Peacekeeper."
Bakugo: You're all idiots. Focus on the mission.

The outskirts of the city were eerily quiet, the streets abandoned and shrouded in an unnatural fog. You could feel the magic crackling in the air, thick and heavy like a storm on the verge of breaking.

The team split into pairs to cover more ground—Aizawa's orders. You, of course, were paired with Bakugo.

"Try to keep up," he said, not even glancing back as he led the way through the ruins of an old market.

"Try not to blow up the entire block," you shot back, adjusting your gloves as you scanned the area for signs of movement.

The first Wraith attack came without warning. Shadowy figures darted out from the fog, their clawed hands swiping at anything in their path. You reacted instinctively, clapping your hands together to create a shockwave that sent them sprawling.

"Not bad," Bakugo admitted grudgingly, launching a series of explosions that lit up the dim alleyway.

The two of you fought with a surprising level of coordination, his aggressive style complemented by your defensive maneuvers. For a brief moment, you almost felt like a team.

"Watch your left!" you shouted as another Wraith lunged at him.

He ducked just in time, retaliating with a blast that turned the creature to ash. "I didn't need your help," he growled.

"You're welcome," you said, rolling your eyes.

By the time the fog began to clear, you'd taken down more Wraiths than you could count. Your muscles ached, and your gloves were scorched, but the satisfaction of a job well done was enough to keep you going.

"Not bad, Kirishima," Bakugo said grudgingly as you regrouped with the others.

"Did you just give me a compliment?" you asked, feigning shock.

"Don't get used to it," he snapped, his scowl returning.

Group Chat: Combat Team Alpha

Mina: You survived! How bad was it?
You: Define "bad." If Bakugo tells me to stay out of his way one more time, I'm quitting.
Mina: Sounds like progress! He didn't yell at you the whole time!
Kirishima: You two actually work well together. I'm calling it now: ultimate power duo.
Bakugo: Shut up, Kirishima.

As you headed back to the academy, you couldn't help but feel a strange mix of exhaustion and anticipation. Something told you this was just the beginning of a very long semester.