Don't Let Go

leave her alone

Bakugo began to cross the street to get closer to Deku. He didn't say anything at first, because he was too busy observing him. He had on some chill clothes and flowers in his hand. Based on the direction he was going, he was heading over to Uraraka's.

"Oi, Deku!", Bakugo called out.

Deku turned around with a winning smile.

"Oh, hey Kacchan! What are you doing out here?"

"Fixing my gauntlet.", he said nonchalantly. "Who are those for?"

"Ah, these are for Uraraka. I'm on my way to ask her to the Valentines Day Reunion at UA."

Ah, crap.

Bakugo had totally forgotten about that. A ping of jealousy had stabbed his heart knowing the girl would undoubtedly say yes.

"Took you long enough to ask her out.", he mumbled. "You're so slow."

"Oh, I don't like her. Well, not like that. She's my best friend-is what I'm trying to say. Besides, it's mandatory to bring a date to this thing. It could be for press."

"Press, huh...?", Bakugo said shooting his eyes toward him. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"You don't like her?"

Deku raised and eyebrow and laughed.

"I mean, she's really cute and all, but us being friends is what matters most to me. I have more important things to worry about than a relationship."

Bakugo narrowed his eyebrows at his childhood friends' response. He wasn't even mad at the answer because he understood, but was he thinking about Uraraka at all?

"You've always been so airheaded.", Bakugo grumbled. "Why the h*ll would you do that?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're playing around with her feelings like they don't matter to you at all. Are you even thinking about how she's gonna feel? You're using her!"

"I'm not using her! We're just friends attending a dance, that's all.", Deku said in confusion.

"Is that how she's gonna take it?", Bakugo said gritting his teeth. "You know she likes you. Why mess with her head like"-

"She used to.", Deku interrupted. "She told me she doesn't like me anymore, and now we're cool!"

"Even if she doesn't anymore, why would think in that fat head of yours that this is a good idea? Showing up to the house of a girl who used to like you with flowers and asking her out to a dance? Your dumb brain doesn't work when it needs to!"

"I'm trying to make it up to her..."

"No you're not. The only reason you're doing this anyway is because you have to. Don't give her attention if it's not the kind of attention you know she wants. You're gonna hurt her all over again by giving her fake hope!"

"She said she was over me!", Deku said exasperated. "Since when do you care about this stuff anyway? Weren't you gonna skip it?"

"I'm not ignoring anything that could cause Uraraka to be in pain. And if you're her best friend or whatever, you should be thinking the same."

Deku blinked in a slight shock. Part of it because what Bakugo had said was coming to light in his head and a wave of guilt flooded over him. The other part of it was that Bakugo cared so deeply about this that he was willing to bring it to his attention. He had never done that before.

Midoriya chuckled.

"I just keep messing up, huh. I know I must be if you of all people are giving me advice.", he said running his hands through his hair.