STRINGS // KATSUKI BAKUGO [2]

Chapter 11 // Two Fools

Failed my road test for the second time this morning 😝✌️
—————————————————————

You were on hour three of training when the heavy, steel doors of the grounds slid open, altering you from your stance on the top of one of the training bots.

You delivered one final blow to the robot, deactivating the machine, which slowly fell limp, before glancing over at the entrance.

A short boy with shaggy black hair, gold-rimmed glasses, and a sea of freckles across his nose and cheeks stood several yards away from you. His pursed lips and wandering green eyes told you he was anxious.

"Can I help you?" you asked, jumping off the robot and landing on the padded floor with bent knees.

"I'm Luka," he stated shyly. "Miss Bate sent me to see you. She said we should go over our mission tomorrow."

"[Y/N]," you introduced yourself shortly while standing to your full height. "There's not much to go over. We go to the dance, and I handle the dealer. As far as I was told, you're just my ticket in."

"Well, yes," Luka nodded as he pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, "but I wanted to go over some teach stuff with you. Miss Bate suggested wearing in-ear radios for communication, and I'd like it if you could teach me some basic defense and offense moves. I'm not much of a fighter."

"So I've been told," you said with a small hum, hands on your hips as you took a moment to catch your breath from your previous exercise. "I guess we're going over tech stuff first because there's no way you're training in that," you added, gesturing toward his outfit.

The boy looked down at his apparel, which consisted of a white button up, beige khaki pants, and brown dress shoes.

"What's wrong with this?" he asked, pulling at his white shirt.

"Those are not training clothes," you said before pulling at your own shirt, a compression tank top. "These are training clothes. You can't be restricted in your movements, and those clothes are very restricting. You also sweat a lot. Dress clothes will make that worse."

"Okay," Luka started. "We can head to my room, so I can change, and, on the way, we can talk about the tech aspect of the mission."

"You trynna get in my pants or something?" you joked, and Luka's cheeks immediately flushed red as the shy boy began waving his hands.

"N-no, that's not what I meant!" he shrieked. "I-I was just—"

"Relax," you chuckled. "I was kidding. Let's go."

Luka nodded curtly before beckoning you out of the training room. You followed him toward, you supposed, his room, watching him curiosity along the way.

You couldn't remember ever seeing Luka before this, which means he's just really good at hiding while doing his job or he was a recent addition to Star and Stripes Agency.

You'd put your money on the former. Considering how shy and drawn back he was, you wouldn't be surprised if you just missed him even with your strangely good observation skills.

"So," Luka began sometime along the way, "have you ever used an in-ear radio?"

"Shockingly enough, no," you replied. "At least, not enough to remember."