-Beyond the illusion-

Bakugo pov

I stood at the bottom of the steps, watching Y/N rush inside, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as her mom teased her. I gave a small wave to her mom, feeling a twinge of awkwardness in the situation.

As I turned to walk away, my mind drifted back to Y/N. She was different—brave, funny, and surprisingly resilient. I couldn't shake the feeling that she had grown on me in ways I hadn't anticipated.

What was this weird sensation in my stomach? It was foreign, something I wasn't used to. Maybe I liked her. The thought was jarring, and I quickly brushed it aside.

"No distractions," I muttered to myself. I didn't have time for feelings or whatever this was. I had to stay focused on being a hero, not getting caught up in... whatever was happening between us.
I trudged back to the dorms, still feeling the rush of the earlier events. I'd left Y/N's place a little while ago, it about and the memory of her teasing and that weird flutter in my stomach wouldn't shake off. I was still processing everything—especially how much fun I'd had. It annoyed me more than I cared to admit.

As I pushed open the door to the common room, the familiar chaos greeted me. Todoroki was lounging on the couch, his expression as stoic as ever, while Deku and Ochaco were cuddled up on another couch, engrossed in their own little world. Nearby, I spotted Mina and Kirishima laughing about something, their faces bright with joy.

"Hey, Bakugo!" Mina shouted, her eyes lighting up as I walked in. "Where have you been?"

"It's none of your damn business," I shot back, trying to keep my irritation at bay. What did it matter to her where I'd been?

But Mina just laughed, undeterred by my gruffness. As I glanced around the room, I caught Kirishima's eye. He was smirking for some reason,Maybe he had an idea of what was going on in my head.

"Hey, Kiri," I said, motioning for him to follow me. "Can we talk?"

Kirishima's grin widened, and he nodded eagerly, trailing behind me to a quieter corner of the room. "What's up, man?"

I took a breath, trying to get my thoughts straight. "I've been feeling weird lately," I admitted, keeping my voice low. "Like whenever I'm around Y/N, my stomach just feels like it's in knots."

Kirishima's expression shifted from playful to serious, his eyes narrowing with understanding. "Ah, I see. So it's not just me then? You definitely feel something for her."

I frowned, crossing my arms defensively. "No I don't"

"You've never felt this way about anyone else, have you?" he asked, leaning against the wall. "It's probably just your body reacting to the fact that you actually like her. That's normal, man."

"Normal? What does that even mean?" I muttered, my frustration bubbling up again. "I don't have time for this! I'm focused on becoming a hero."

Kirishima shrugged, his tone softening. "It's okay to have feelings, Bakugo. You don't have to push them away just because you think they'll distract you. You can still be a hero and have someone special in your life."

I didn't answer, my mind racing with thoughts of Y/N. Every time I thought of her, I felt that strange flutter in my stomach again. Damn it, I couldn't let this get to me.

"Whatever," I said finally, turning back to the main room. "I'll just... deal with it later."

Kirishima chuckled again, shaking his head as he headed back to the couch. I followed him, still unwilling to admit anything to myself. But as I took a seat, I couldn't help glancing at the spot where Y/N had been sitting the day before. That feeling in my stomach flared up again.