| Zero Hour | 172732014

Challenge Accepted

"Wait what? His birthday is this week?" You bolted from your seat in the lunchroom, eyeing two fellow classmates who, like you, decided to intern at the same agency.

"Yeah, that's the word going around," spoke one nonchalantly.

"Heard it from the green-haired dude the other day, mumbling about getting him a present. Heh, what would you get this guy anyway?" Mocked the other, her voice a trill while she chewed into her lunch.

It was April Fools and Easter not too long ago, recalling that eventful afternoon pulling a small prank on the three UA students, with the help of outside forces as well. It brought a smile to your face, hoping that the boys found that not all the letters were completely empty. But you've noticed a change ever since you made friends with the Hero students, especially from your partner who hailed the Management course at the same school.

I don't want you hanging around the Hero students here. They're terrible, especially him.

You knew he had a tendency to talk down about the Hero students after common knowledge that they were considered prodigal compared to past student attendees. He had a distaste for those glorified on a silver platter. But his words not only confused you, they became hurtful. It felt dictatorial in nature, controlling and limited, deciding on who you were permitted to hang around with. It had only been a few months now. He couldn't feel that strongly about his own fellow classmates?

"Now that you know, I bet I know what you're planning to do," Teased one of your fellows, her lips turning into a teasing grin. "You've been around the guy for some time. Is something going on?"

"What? No, nothing like that," you protested hastily. "We're just acquaintances."

"He yells at you and calls you names," mentioned the other, his eyes drowsy and apathetic. "That's a sure fire sign of interest."

"He calls everyone names," you clarified, recalling a few "tasteful" ones to mind.

"Look, there's no denying the fact that the two of you had gotten close," piped the trill voice of your fellow classmate. "Bakugou looks like someone who would murder with a glare, but he hasn't killed you yet."

You sighed in defeat. You could see where the conversation was going and it wasn't in your favour. Again, ever since you've become acquainted with a handful of UA's top Hero students, your own classmates from your school became your personal interrogators about it. Non-stop.

"I'm just going to figure something out during the week," you groaned.

"Whoa, wait, you're really getting him something for his birthday?" Questioned that trill voice again.

"I feel bad if I don't, and he wasn't against the chocolates I gave him before so-"

"Wait hold up! Chocolates? Seriously?"

The look in her eyes gleamed with surprise and excitement, realizing the words you nonchalantly spoke out of context. "Wait, for Easter! I made chocolates for him and his friends for Easter!" You clarified with a nervous yell. The conversation soon derailed from assumptions to brainstorming birthday gifts, leaving you in the troublesome hands of your classmates before the lunch break was over. The relief you felt hearing Kido's voice eased the anxiety that brewed thanks to their excitable suggestions.

Learning more about Bakugou's birthday came with a few potholes and roadblocks. There was the whole 'trying not to look conspicuous' ordeal while collecting information from Midoriya about it whenever you had the opportunity to find him in the agency. At the very least you discovered what day his birthday landed on, but when it came to gifts, it was almost a challenge in itself. Midoriya unfortunately was of no help, having already tried his best to figure out a gift himself. You contemplated on asking Todoroki, but thought against it after seeing the few interactions between Bakugou and himself.