Why Us?

Staring Contest

"I'm glad you're a part of our friend group now and all, but... is it just me, or does Bakugo keep staring at you, Hirai?" Uraraka asks, glancing nervously from their group to Bakugo.

"And is it necessary for Shinsou to glare back at him the entire time?" Iida adds, chopping his hands to emphasize his point.

Izumi glances at her friend standing behind her as he leans on the couch- which most of the group is sitting on- in class 1A's common room. She frowns and smacks his arm, pulling him out of the staring contest with Bakugo.

"I don't know what that guy's deal is," Izumi sighs, pointedly ignoring Bakugo, "Does he usually stare at people from other classes?"

"Dunno, most of 1A doesn't have friends outside the class," Tsu ribbits, also glancing at Bakugo.

"I would say we meet at our dorm commons, but they kinda have it out for class 1A," Shinsou chuckles, leaning down to put his chin on Izumi's head and glare at Bakugo again.

"Then you should do something about his staring. It's quite annoying," Todoroki sighs, getting up to move away from his explosive classmate's stare.

Izumi sighs and looks for Midoriya, noting that he's still working on his chores for the dorms. She purses her lips and stands up, just as tired of Bakugo's staring as the rest of the group. Shinsou exchanges a look with her and takes her spot on the couch.

"I'll be back. If Bakugo has a problem with General Studies students being here, then he's going to have to learn to deal with it." Izumi finally makes eye contact with Bakugo, sending a harsh glare his way.

Before the boy can look away, she gestures to herself and him before pointing outside and stalking to said spot. Izumi leans against the wall of the dorm building, folding her arms and hoping Bakugo will get the message and follow her outside. She doesn't have to wait long before the spiky-haired blond kicks the door open and starts looking around for her- his hands shoved in his pockets, and a frown on his face.

"What do you want, Bakugo?" Izumi spits out his name, more angry than she thought she'd be at the boy's constant stares.

Her arms are still tense when he takes a step towards her, though. Bakugo notices and stops where he is.

"I... I thought you died after... everything," he mutters, shifting on his feet and not making eye contact- something unusual for the explosive blond.

"Talk and walk- this isn't a conversation I want anyone overhearing. Try anything funny, and I'll call for help, got it?" Izumi sighs, not waiting for Bakugo's response as she starts walking away from the dorm building.

"I, uh, fuck. I wanted to talk to you since I first saw you in the lunchroom. I just- I couldn't figure out how? Umm, I've been going to therapy and anger management classes and all that fun shit. I... look, I'm really sorry about what happened in middle school and-"

"Shut up," Izumi mutters, whipping around to see Bakugo trailing behind her as he talks.

Surprisingly, it effectively makes him fall silent as he risks a glance at her angry face. Izumi's hands are balled into fists, and her entire body is trembling, but her expression is solid anger.

"You don't know me. You never did. And you told me to kill myself because I was a quirkless nobody! You gave me a massive scar," Izumi seethes, ripping her uniform shirt up to show the extensive burns on her side, "as a DAILY reminder of how you don't want me as a soulmate! Your friends bullied me daily! And you think a simple 'I'm sorry' fixes everything?!"

She takes a deep breath, fixing her shirt as Bakugo remains silent- a look of sadness and regret on his face.

"Stop staring at me, it's making my whole friend group uncomfortable," Izumi mutters, running back to the dorms and ignoring the soft, vulnerable look on Bakugo's face.

She clutches her side hard enough to make herself wince. Yeah, the scar is a reminder that she'll never be good enough. 

Izumi double-checks that her uniform is neat, and forcibly relaxes her expression before re-entering 1A's dorm building. She spots a familiar head of green and smiles softly, glad he's finished with his chores.

"How'd it go?" Uraraka asks, staring at the door to see if Bakugo is planning to follow Izumi inside.

"I told him to stop staring at me," Izumi smiles sheepishly, "Although I didn't wait to hear his answer, I was too annoyed with the whole staring issue..."

"Good for you, kero," Tsu adds.