Unspoken // Bakudeku

Chapter seven

 "Never in a million years did I think this night would end up with me in your dorm room," he says, smirking, though the honesty behind his words shines through.

"Don't get used to it," I reply, hiding the smile threatening to break free as I dip one of my fries into the ice cream. "I only let you in because it's a million fucking degrees outside, and I didn't want the ice cream to melt all over your car." I pop the fry into my mouth, immediately regretting my choice. The taste hits me like a bad memory, and I can't help but make a face."Eugh," I complain, pushing the ice cream away. "Why did I even like this as a kid? It tastes like toothpaste."Bakugou laughs, a sound that's both surprising and strangely comforting in the quiet of my room. "I never liked it. I never understood why you were so obsessed with it."I pause, confusion washing over me. "Wait... I only ate it because you liked it so much."He looks at me, the smirk fading into something softer, something almost nostalgic. "I never liked it. I just got it because you did."The realization hits me, and I can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. "So we both spent years eating ice cream we didn't even like?""Guess so," he shrugs, a hint of a smile still lingering on his lips. "We were idiots.""Still are," I mutter, but there's no bite to my words. It feels strange, sitting here with him, sharing this moment. It's almost like the years of rivalry and tension have melted away with the ice cream, leaving us with something raw and real.He leans back against the wall, his eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, there's a silence that feels heavy, but not uncomfortable. It's as if we're both trying to figure out what this is—what we are—without the usual walls we put up."I never thought we'd be here either," I admit quietly, more to myself than to him. "But... I don't hate it."He nods, his gaze softening in a way I've rarely seen. "Yeah, me neither."For a while, we just sit there, the quiet settling around us like a blanket. It's not perfect, it's not what I expected, but maybe that's okay. Maybe, just for tonight, it's enough.Suddenly, I hear a ringing, pulling me out of the rare moment of calm. I glance at my phone, but it's not mine. "It's yours, Kacchan," I say, watching as he picks it up."What do you want, Cami?" he answers, his tone flat. Of course, it's her. I listen to his side of the conversation, trying not to let it bother me, but I can feel my mood souring with each passing second. After a minute, he hangs up, stuffing his phone back into his pocket."I gotta go," he says, and I can't bring myself to ask what she wanted, though the question sits heavy on my tongue. I know it's stupid, but hearing her name makes my stomach twist. "She wants to, you know... fuck." He says it so casually, like it's nothing, and I feel a wave of disgust wash over me. How can he say it like that, as if it doesn't matter?I stay quiet, pushing a fry around the container without much interest in eating anymore. I watch him as he starts to pack up his things, the moment we just shared slipping away like sand through my fingers. "Bye," I manage to say as he heads for the door. My voice sounds distant, even to me. "Later," he mutters, and then he's gone, the door clicking shut behind him.I sit there, the room suddenly feeling emptier than before, and the silence heavier. I shove another fry into my mouth, but it tastes bland, almost like cardboard. I don't know why it bothers me so much that he left, that he's with her now, but it does.With a sigh, I push the food aside and lay back on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. The night that started out so unexpectedly has now taken a turn I wasn't prepared for. And as much as I want to pretend I don't care, the truth is, I do.

As the day drags on, the tension from last night clings to me like a second skin. By the time I make it to my last period before lunch—Literature—I'm almost thankful for the distraction. Almost. Katsuki and Kirishima are already seated when I walk into the classroom, both of them chatting casually, but when Katsuki glances my way, there's a flicker of something in his eyes—something unresolved.I take my seat near them, trying to act like everything is normal, but the air between us is thick with unspoken words. As the class settles down, I try to focus on Miss Midnight's lecture, but my mind keeps wandering back to Kacchan's intense stare. I glance over at him a couple of times, catching him side-eyeing me, his jaw clenched like he's biting back something he desperately wants to say. Miss Midnight starts talking about our reading assignment, After by Anna Todd. She gives a quick overview of the themes in the book—love, betrayal, toxic relationships—and opens the floor for discussion. I almost groan inwardly. Of course, this would be the topic on the day after that huge argument with Kacchan. 

"So, who wants to start? What did you all think about Tessa and Hardin's relationship?" Miss Midnight asks, her eyes scanning the room for a brave soul to speak up.

I hesitate for a moment before deciding to dive in. "Well, I think Tessa's a pretty accurate portrayal of someone caught in a toxic relationship. She's trying to find herself while constantly being pulled in different directions by Hardin. She's confused, lost, and it makes sense that she's drawn to him even though he keeps hurting her."Kacchan snorts loudly, making me glance in his direction. He's leaning back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, looking like he's got something to say. Typical."Seriously, nerd? You're giving her too much credit," he says, his voice low but dripping with disdain. "Tessa's weak. She lets herself be dragged around by Hardin because she's into that shit. And Hardin? He's just acting how he is 'cause girls like her eat it up. They love the drama, the whole 'bad boy' act."I frown at his words, a sharp retort already forming on my tongue. "That's not fair, Kacchan. Hardin's messed up, sure, but that doesn't mean Tessa wanted to be treated like garbage. She loved him, and that complicated things."Kirishima, sitting next to Kacchan, looks like he's caught in the middle of something he wasn't prepared for. He's glancing between us, clearly unsure how to step in. "Uh, bro, I didn't know you read the whole book," he says, trying to lighten the mood."I didn't," Kacchan mutters, his eyes flicking to me. "But I know enough."Miss Midnight seems intrigued by the tension between us. "Midoriya, Bakugou, it sounds like you're both drawing some interesting parallels. How do you think Tessa and Hardin's relationship compares to modern relationships? Or... personal experiences?"I stiffen. She can't possibly know, can she? I glance at Kacchan, whose gaze sharpens at the question. There's a long, tense silence, and I can feel everyone's eyes on us."Well," I start, my voice steady but my heart pounding, "sometimes people get caught up in situations they didn't expect. They think they can handle it, but it spirals out of control, and before they know it, they're stuck. Tessa wasn't weak. She just got in too deep, and Hardin—he wasn't always good to her. He made her think she was the problem when really, he was the one who didn't know how to handle his own emotions."Kacchan scoffs, his eyes narrowing. "That's bullshit, Deku. Hardin didn't make her stay. She could've left any time. She just didn't want to."My temper flares at his dismissal, and before I can stop myself, I raise my voice. "What about when Tessa found out about Hardin's ex, huh? When she realized she was just another notch in his belt? You think that was her choice? Or what about the phone call, Kacchan?" I snap, my voice louder than I intended. The classroom goes dead silent. "What about when Cami called?"The second those words leave my mouth, I regret it. The entire room freezes, eyes darting between me and Kacchan. His expression shifts from arrogant to something darker, more dangerous. But then he laughs."What the fuck did you just say?" he growls lowly, standing up from his desk, his fists clenched.The tension in the air thickens as everyone stares at us, completely unsure of what's going on but knowing that something very real just slipped through the cracks of this "literature discussion."Miss Midnight, sensing the shift, steps in before things can escalate further. "Alright, alright, let's steer this conversation back to the book, shall we?" She says with a nervous chuckle, but even she can't hide the curiosity in her eyes.Kacchan doesn't sit down, though. His eyes are locked on me, fury simmering beneath the surface. "What happened to 'just friends'? Huh Deku?" Before I can respond, the bell rings, signaling the end of the period. Everyone rushes to gather their things, eager to escape the palpable tension. But Kacchan doesn't move. He just stands there, staring at me like we're in some kind of silent war.Kirishima awkwardly pats Kacchan on the shoulder. "Hey, bro, let's head to lunch. Cool off a bit."Without another word, Kacchan storms out of the room, and I can't shake the feeling that this is far from over.