Racing II Midoriya x Bakugo

II Festival's Help II Pt. 10

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The sun had barely begun to set when the dorms started buzzing with excitement. The prospect of the festival seemed to lift everyone's spirits, even in the aftermath of the party and its inevitable hangovers. I could see my classmates rushing to their rooms to change, chattering about what they were planning to wear or which stalls they wanted to visit first.

I stood in the common room, observing the commotion around me. Festivals weren't really my thing. I never quite understood the appeal of all the noise and crowds, but this one seemed different. There was something about the anticipation in the air that felt...inviting. Maybe it was the promise of fireworks or the thought of seeing my friends enjoy themselves. Either way, I decided I would go.

As I glanced around the room, my eyes caught on Bakugo's door. I couldn't help but think about what I'd seen earlier. The way he and Midoriya had interacted—it was clear something had happened between them.

Bakugo had looked more flustered than I'd ever seen him, a noticeable limp in his step, and Midoriya... well, he was trying hard not to make it obvious, but his concern was written all over his face. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together. The tension between them was palpable, and despite his usual bravado, Bakugo's reaction had been... different. Almost vulnerable.

I wasn't sure if they had planned to go to the festival together or if Bakugo would even show up after everything that had happened, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to check in on him. Maybe offer a few words, something I wasn't particularly good at, but it felt like the right thing to do.

I walked over to Bakugo's door and knocked lightly. "Bakugo? Are you going to the festival?"

There was a pause, followed by a gruff, muffled reply. "What do you want, Half-and-Half?"

I rolled my eyes. He was always quick with the nicknames, but it didn't bother me anymore. "Just wanted to see if you were coming. It might be fun. A break from... everything."

Another pause, and then I heard the sound of shuffling inside the room. A few seconds later, Bakugo opened the door just enough to glare at me from the crack. "Yeah, I'm coming. Don't need you checking up on me like some damn babysitter."

I nodded, unaffected by his sharp tone. "Alright. Just wanted to make sure. We're leaving in a few minutes if you want to join us."

Bakugo grumbled something under his breath, but I took it as a 'yes.' I didn't push him further, stepping back and making my way to my own room to get ready.

As I passed Midoriya's door, I noticed it was slightly ajar. I peeked in to find him staring into his closet, seemingly lost in thought. He hadn't noticed me yet, so I gave a small knock on the doorframe.

"Midoriya," I called softly, "Are you ready?"

Midoriya jumped slightly, snapping out of his thoughts. "Oh! Todoroki-kun, yeah, I'm almost ready." He grabbed a casual yukata from the closet, something simple but still nice enough for the festival. "I just... wasn't sure what to wear."

I nodded. "That looks good. You should wear it."

He smiled a little, the nervous energy still evident in his eyes. "Thanks, Todoroki-kun. Are you ready?"

"I will be soon," I replied. "We're leaving shortly, so don't take too long."

Midoriya nodded, his expression becoming more determined. "Right. I'll be ready in a minute."

I left him to finish getting ready and headed to my room. It didn't take me long to change into a simple black yukata. I glanced at myself in the mirror, adjusting the fabric slightly to make sure it sat properly on my shoulders. Festivals weren't really my style, but I could at least look presentable.