Big Bad Wolf

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Katsuki Bakugō hated parties.
Precisely, he hated anything which revolved around the concept of celebration.
The pleasantries and plastic laughter exchanged between sections 3-A and B, those tiny dishes too different from what he was used to, the pomp of the Yaoyorozu villa; and last, but not least, those ridiculous costumes.
It was Eijirō who tortured him so that he too would wear one and participate in that Halloween pantomime; never in his life did he believe he cared about a person so much he would put on hairpins with wolf ears and a belt with a voluminous tail of blond hair.
"You will pay for this, Shitty Hair," he hissed between his teeth as he grabbed the third glass of beer.
Kaminari and Kirishima, both in a suit with bat wings, were being scolded by Iida in a zombie outfit.
The blond didn't care why, but probably they had been running down a corridor or something like that.
Tired by his own presence at the event, he rested for an interminable moment his gaze on a huge crystal chandelier, wondering how much it cost.
Not that Bakugō wasn't from a wealthy family, but all that luxury bothered him way too much.
He thought about getting up and leaving, but a familiar voice stopped him.
"There you are!," a girl with a shrill voice sank next to him on the sofa, "I looked for you everywhere, even on the terrace! Have you been here alone all this time?".
Ochaco Uraraka had worked harder than anyone else with her Halloween costume: the waist was wrapped in a corset tied to a long black skirt, while the full breasts were highlighted by an orange blouse with a showy sweetheart neckline; with the pointed black hat and the broom in tow, she was a perfect — and quite charming — witch.
Katsuki chugged the beer and put the glass on the floor.
"Yes and I was hoping to stay alone, Round Face," he exhaled, dropping his head back and massaging his forehead; he drank a little too quickly, but despite the pang in his head he was sober. The boy's rude attitude had never frightened her during the three years at U.A., it could almost be said that they gave her a sense of familiarity and warmth at that point.
She burst out laughing, holding her belly with one hand.
"So, do you want to be alone together?"
Hearing those words, the blond turned dazed towards her, then understood. There was nothing malicious in her words. Her eyes wore a somewhat embittered expression, as if she really needed company.
He could never deny it to her.
Perhaps because he low-key liked those notes of bergamot and ginger her neck released, because of that doe-eyed gaze, because after all that time he was a little fond of her.
In his unconscious he knew he was not able to hold eye contact with the girl for too long, so he looked back at the chandelier.
Being surrounded by male friends and so devoted only to the dream of becoming a hero, women were almost alien creatures to him.
Above all Ochaco, who was always looking for him among the crowds, who cheered for him during the training — except when his opponent was Deku —, who spoke to him, who blushed at him.
But why was she so close? In addition, with a discretion and grace that made it impossible to peer through the girl's intentions.
While staying at U.A. her presence in Katsuki's life had been second only to Eijirō's. She had approached him on tiptoe and with a smile and a lot of patience had won his benevolence. Thanks to the respect she had already earned at the first year Sports Festival as well.
Why, though?
She had never asked him for any favors, had never benefited from being close to him — the exact opposite, that alliance had raised more than one eyebrow.
Was it possible that she was buzzing around him because...?
No, no, that's nonsense.
It was crystal clear how Ochaco reserved the same affectionate attentions to Izuku — rather, Deku —, who had also stolen her first kiss.
The image of that freckled face pressed against the girl's annoyed him.
"Don't you have better things to do with your friends tonight?," the blond pursued, getting up from the sofa with the hands tucked into the pockets of the black jeans.
He was not rejecting her, that was the opposite: it was his unique way of challenging her, of understanding to what extent she would follow him.
The student evaded the question — she didn't want to burden him with her streams of consciousness — and turned the conversation around.
"Wait, Bakugō! Where are you going?"
The hero slowed down until he stopped in the center of the main hall, already far from the hustle and bustle of party.
"I'm going to get the Shinkansen, to the dormitory," he replied, "Where I was heading to before you got here."
Ochaco hesitated; she joined her hands at chest height, strung tight like a violin and pensive.
She wondered what was the right thing to do: trying to enjoy the evening with friends? Staying with Katsuki and go back to the dorm?
The girls would have noticed their absence, if she had gone away with him how could she have answered any inquiries the following morning?
Too many questions, no answers, a few seconds available.
Then it happened in an instant: all that thinking and rethinking dissolved when Bakugō muttered something and started walking again.
"When faced with two decisions, toss a coin in the air. Not because it will make the right choice for you, but because the moment the coin is in the air you will know what you are hoping for."
That grumpy and arrogant stride was Uraraka's coin toss.
She took a deep breath.
"I'm coming too."

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