Red in Different Shades

36. Dusk to Dawn

Time had flown by with the days slipping into a steady rhythm of practice and rehearsals.

Until, the day arrived.

[6:03 AM]

The sun had barely risen, casting long shadows through the hallway windows as Niwa padded softly through the dorms. She'd been up for just ten minutes, and the cold chill of autumn already demanded that she wear extra layers.

Heading toward the common areas kitchen, she noticed a familiar silhouette. Leaning against the kitchen counter, Bakugou squinted into his mug like it had somehow wronged him.

"Morning," she said, keeping her voice soft enough not to disturb the stillness.

Bakugou grunted in acknowledgment, lifting the cup to his mouth. He looked halfway between awake and asleep still, his hair even messier than usual, though the scowl was still firmly in place.

"Couldn't sleep in?" she asked, reaching for a glass to pour herself some water.

"Didn't feel like it," he muttered, voice rough with traces of sleep.

"Its a coffee morning?" She smiled slightly.

Coffee, Niwa had learned, was a rare choice for Bakugou. Either he'd had a long night or was bracing himself for a big day. Considering today's schedule, she could guess which it was.

He didn't answer, just rolled his eyes and sipped some more. They settled into a comfortable silence, as Niwa downed her glass of water.

Eventually, Niwa broke the quiet. "How did band practice go? Think everyone's ready?"

"The idiots are finally getting it," he muttered, sounding almost annoyed by his own praise. "Jiro's got a brain, at least. She's solid at this. Even Sparky's keeping up, though I had to spell everything out twice for him. Tokoyami... well, the bird's trying, I'll give him that."

Niwa stifled a chuckle. Either there was something magical in that coffee or he was actually proud of their group. "You don't think he's got it in him?"

Bakugou shook his head, eyes still blinking off the sleep. "He's fine. Just dumb in his own way."

"Mina's been putting us through some kind of boot camp with the dance team. She's intense." Niwa sighed as she rolled her shoulders, pulling her arms behind her back with a few clicks. "Did you see Midoriya was given the job of pulling Aoyama around like a prop during the routine."

"So that's what that mess was yesterday?" Bakugou raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Deku hauling around the sparkle idiot? That's a damn disaster waiting to happen."

"Oh, it has the potential to be," she agreed, shaking her head. "But if he pulls it off, it's gonna look amazing."

He huffed, and they lapsed back into silence, just the low hum of the dorm and the ambience of the early morning around them. After a while, Niwa glanced over, noticing the way his gaze had drifted out the window.

"You notice Kirishima's been a bit different lately?" she ventured. "Feels like he's... more serious, I guess?"

Bakugou shrugged but nodded. "He's working to get stronger. He's probably got his own shit he's dealing with. At least he's not sitting around whining about it."

"Good for him," she murmured quietly.

Bakugou nodded, his focus still on the window. "Yeah... good for him."

And as the sun finally crested the horizon, filling the room with a gentle glow, they savored the calm and quiet only these early mornings could bring.

As the sunlight gradually warmed the common area, Niwa drifted over to the fridge, pulling out eggs and a few vegetables. She raised an eyebrow at Bakugou. "You cooking, or should I?"