ARMOR [Bakugo Katsuki x reader]

2: competitive

Monday came faster than you would have liked. After spending the entire weekend doing nothing but gathering gear and supplies you were proud of, you knew a single makeshift hero wouldn't bother about them. They were too small. Not flashy enough. What would heroes need when it came to self-defense products? Thankfully nothing. However, for this project, it bit you in the ass.

After displaying all of the rings and bracelets on the table, you shifted awkwardly and accidentally nudged against the broad block of metal. If it came down to it, you could use your quirk and create something new for the stand. At least it was flashy. Or, your quirk was. The idea was Mei's. She had a knack for in-person sales and pitches. You didn't.

The doors had opened for the hero department's third grade, everyone scattering about to go and look. As suspected, most glanced at your stand but moved along. Some girls had stopped by to try out the rings or bracelets but given in once they realized just how heavy they all were – without asking.

It came to the point where you got ignored for long enough, that you placed the large block of iron sheet onto the table, using your quirk to separate the metal into smaller chunks. If you were going to be forced to offer up yourself and your products like a desperate whore – you were going to bag the one with the most potential.

After separating all the blocks of metal, you glanced up to see Mei's stand packed with hero students. It didn't surprise you. Mei was excellent. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed three guys going in the opposite direction of everyone else, taking a moment at each stand. From a distance, they looked like a walking billboard for soy sauce, ketchup, and mustard.

"So, what are you offering? Accessories?" a humorous tone appeared above her. It was who you had nicknamed mustard, though he had a black streak in his hair that looked like lightning.

"Perfect for glamming up a boring hero costume," you mused, almost sarcastically but biting your tongue.

You looked back at Soy Sauce, who studied the rings intently. His black eyes skimmed everything on the table before he politely asked if he could try one. As long as he was polite. His cheerful expression got swapped out with a perplexed one once he picked it up.

"It's heavy," he muttered to himself as he continued to study it. He rolled the ring around his finger a few times until you heard the click. The metal ring fanned out, ghosting over all of his knuckles before settling into a brand-new item. A four-finger knuckle self-defense duster. A small smile tugged on your lips as you saw the dumbstruck expression of the three hero students.

"Woah –"

"Awesome!"

"Do you have more?"

Pride flooded your veins. You had never been a good saleswoman or a pitcher – you usually let your products talk for themselves. With an online shop, you didn't have to interact with customers either, except over mail. For once, you let Mei influence the next words that left your lips. All three of them listened intently as you explained the products, and let them test out a few more which wouldn't bring anyone actual damage.

"There you three morons are –" The voice sent a chill down your spine. The ashy blond from the subway platform appeared behind them and his eyes flickered with amusement as he looked at you. His gaze slipped from yours, then to the table. He used his broad shoulders to push past his classmates, only for his amusement to turn into disappointment. "You three goin' accessory shoppin' for the tournament?"

His voice was a snicker. A condescending snicker at that. Every ounce of pride you had previously felt, withered away. Rotted like autumn leaves. Sonofabitch –