𝐖𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 || ᵇ.ᵏᵃᵗˢᵘᵏⁱ

XXIX

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"2 days until exams, do you feel prepared?" Aeri asked Bakugou at lunchtime. Instead of following the rest of their class to the cafeteria, they'd stayed behind in the classroom to eat their lunch and get in some extra quiet study time because apparently everyday after school and the weekends weren't enough for them.

"I'm always fuckin' prepared." Bakugou smirked, snacking on his onigiri with one hand and answering biology questions with the other.

"What about for the practical test? We don't know what it'll be, are you nervous?"

"Why in the fuck would I be nervous?" Bakugou raised an eyebrow at her and she stared back at him, her bright golden eyes meeting his crimson ones. "Are you nervous? Is that why you're asking?"

"I'll pass the test, I just don't like not knowing what it's about," She said honestly, not really feeling any need to pretend to feel something she didn't.

"I've never seen you lose, you'll be fine." Bakugou attempted to reassure her, hesitantly reaching a hand out and awkwardly patting Aeri's sweater-clad forearm.

Aeri's eyes sparkled and a wide smile stretched across her face, both at his words and the physical contact. This was the first time he'd initiated contact between them outside of a fight.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Bakugou narrowed his eyes at her, she looked unusually happy for someone who was nervous half a minute ago. Bakugou didn't like how warm he felt inside at the sight of her smile.

"No reason," She lied, her smile not dropping.

Bakugou put down his pen and grabbed her chin, turning her face away from him. "Stop fuckin' looking at me."

"Am I making you nervous, Katsuki?" Her smile turned teasing as she slid a hand over wrist, removing his hand from her face.

"I never get nervous, I already fuckin' told you." Bakugou scowled but his ears were slowly turning red. He didn't take his hand away either.

"You're blushing." She chuckled. Bakugou scrunched his nose up defiantly, tearing his hand away and crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm just teasing," she said, reaching her hand up and ruffling his hair playfully. his frown deepened, so did his blush.

"you're lucky I fucking like you," Bakugou grumbled, grasping her hand as it moved away from his head and bringing it down to rest their linked hands on the desk in between them.

"you can't say stuff like that whilst holding my hand and not expect me to make assumptions," Aeri narrowed her eyes at him, pouting. She knew it wasn't what he meant but she couldn't help but get her hopes up whenever he was affectionate with her, or accepted the affection she showed him.

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A week later and all of their written exams were over. She watched her friends as they slouched over the lunch table, relieved that they wouldn't have to go through any of that mental anguish for a few months at least.

"You're forgetting about the hero course exam," Aeri reminded them innocently, popping a raspberry into her mouth. They all immediately groaned and began berating her for ruining their moment and she held her hands up as if she was surrendering. Aeri muttered an apology, quietening down so they could all go back to sitting in their comfortable silence without having to worry about exams—even though they really did have one last test to worry about and it was definitely going to be the hardest.

Aeri stole a glance at Bakugou, who was ignoring everyone as per usual. He was sat next to Aeri whilst he chewed his food, seemingly deep in thought and Aeri took the chance to study his expression. He looked calm as if he was debating something with himself in his mind, but as soon as he snapped back he'd go back to being irritable Bakugou. Aeri didn't mind irritable Bakugou, but her favourite was when he was playful and teased her, like in training. She turned back to her lunch before any one could call her out for staring just as Bakugou looked up, blinking as if his eyes were drying out from being spaced out too long.

Aeri frowned, confused when Bakugou started to pack away his half-eaten lunch. He then reached over and placed the lid on her relatively untouched lunchbox, clipping it into place and shoving it into the tote bag that was placed on her lap. Without a word, Bakugou pulled her up by the arm and away from the lunch table, ignoring the shouts of their friends who'd watched the entire ordeal.

"Where are we going?" Aeri questioned, trying not to trip over her own feet with the way he was dragging her through the empty hallways. He didn't answer. "Katsuki!" No answer again.

They turned a corner and went down a flight of stairs Aeri had never seen before. Bakugou shoved open the double doors and the midday summer air hit her. He still didn't stop until they were out of sight from any surveillance cameras or other students.

Aeri leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, waiting for him to explain himself. But he stood staring at her for a good minute before he even opened his mouth.

"I—"He began but then paused again, getting frustrated with himself. "Jesus how was this so damn easy for you?" Aeri tilted her head, scrunching her nose as she tried to figure out what he meant.

"I'm just gonna say it. I fucking like you."

Aeri's eyes shot wide open and she could feel her cheeks getting warmer. "You like like me? Not just friend like me?" She asked, absolutely needing confirmation after he said the exact same thing last week but meaning nothing by it.

"What? Yes I like like you, do you think I would've dragged you all the way here if I just liked you as a friend?"

Aeri giggled, not listening to a word he said after she got her confirmation. All she could concentrate on was the fast beating of her heart and the warm flowery feeling in her stomach.

"Oi, stop staring at me and smiling like that, you're creeping me out," His cheeks where equally red as hers by this point, but he learned to like the way his insides would flip when he was with her.

Before he could say anything else, Aeri had slid her arms around him, gently pulling him closer and leaning up to rest her chin on his shoulder. She could feel his body freeze and then relax underneath her touch, his arms awkwardly coming up to wrap around her waist, sealing up any leftover space between them as their bodies were pushed flush against each other.

"I can feel your damn heartbeat. Did I make you that fucking happy?" He asked teasingly, knowing she could probably feel how fast his was beating too.

"Shut up and let me enjoy this," She replied, her smile not dropping. "When did you figure it out?" She questioned curiously, pulling her face back from his shoulder so she could see his face.

"Why do you want to know?" Bakugou narrowed his eyes.

"I'm curious," She smiled, admiring the way his vermillion eyes seemed brighter in the sunlight.

"Probably started liking you when you told me why you always fuckin' stood up for me but I didn't realise 'til we were studying in the classroom last week." He mumbled reluctantly, refusing to look her in the eyes. "Didn't tell ya 'cause I knew you wouldn't focus on the exams after."

Aeri huffed out a laugh. "You think that you admitting you have feeling for me would mess up my exam performance? You think highly of yourself don't you, Katsuki."

"Shut up." He grumbled, his whole face turning red. He moved his hand up to the back of her head and shoved her face back into his shoulder so she wouldn't see. Aeri laughed but gladly stayed in that position.

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