Where Our Hearts Fall

Chapter 24

Another busy day at U.A., and the usual buzz of students filled the air as the lunch bell rang. The Bakusquad—Y/N, Bakugo, Mina, Kirishima, Kaminari, and Sero—had gathered around their usual table in the cafeteria. Everyone had their usual energy, but there was an underlying tension that hung in the air, especially when Bakugo was around.

"Man, I'm still not ready for that afternoon training," Kaminari whined, letting his head drop to the table dramatically. "Why do we have to train after school? Can't we just—"

"SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU IDIOT," Bakugo snapped, slamming his hand down on the table, making everyone jump. "YOU'RE IN TRAINING TO BE A HERO, NOT A LAZY ASS. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER."

Kaminari threw his hands up defensively, but Kirishima just laughed, his grin as wide as ever. "Come on, Denki, you know Bakugo's right. Hero work isn't about taking breaks. You've gotta grind to get better."

"WHATEVER..." Kaminari muttered, crossing his arms. "But seriously, I wish we could get some chill time now and then."

Bakugo rolled his eyes, looking as if he couldn't care less about the topic. "CHILL TIME? YOU NEED BRAINS, NOT CHILL TIME. MAYBE THEN YOU'D ACTUALLY BE USEFUL DURING A MISSION."

"Speaking of brains, I heard you aced that math exam, Bakugo," Sero piped up with a smirk. "Guess the exploding genius isn't just good at blowing stuff up, huh?"

Bakugo narrowed his eyes, the usual fire behind them still blazing. "OF COURSE I ACED IT. I'M NOT LIKE SOME MORONS HERE WHO NEED TO CHEAT THEIR WAY THROUGH."

"Yikes, calm down there, Bakugo," Mina teased, leaning in with a wicked grin. "We know you're smart. You don't need to remind us every five minutes."

He scowled at her, clearly annoyed, but his shoulders relaxed a little as he turned his gaze away from the group. "Tch. I just don't get how some of you can't keep up. All that homework? Piece of cake."

Y/N smiled softly, amused at the way Bakugo's pride always flared up. She knew better than anyone that he was more than just his explosive quirk. He was sharp—intelligent in his own way—and he wasn't behind in school. If anything, he was always ahead of the curve. And yet, he refused to make it obvious.

"You're always so intense," Y/N teased, nudging him with her elbow. "It's like you never stop."

Bakugo's sharp gaze flicked to her, his lips curling into a slight frown. He was about to snap back with one of his usual insults, but for a split second, something in his eyes softened. It was barely noticeable, but Y/N caught it. He quickly turned his attention to his lunch, muttering under his breath, "Yeah, whatever."

The group continued talking, but Y/N could tell that Bakugo was trying to keep his distance emotionally, as usual. She didn't press him, letting the moment slide as the conversation shifted.

"Did you guys hear about Class 1-B?" Mina asked, leaning in conspiratorially, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Kaminari immediately perked up, eager for some drama. "Ooh, gossip! What's up with them?"

Mina lowered her voice, glancing around before speaking. "Apparently, they're using some new gadgets or quirk amplifiers to improve their training. Word is they're getting some special equipment to help them out, like they're trying to one-up us."

"What?!" Bakugo's voice boomed as he slammed his fist onto the table. The force of it made everyone jump, the sound loud enough to draw attention from nearby tables. "THOSE DAMN COWARDS! THEY THINK THEY NEED GADGETS TO GET STRONGER? PATHETIC."

Sero raised his hands, trying to calm him down. "Easy, man, they're just trying to keep up with us. No need to lose your temper."

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN," Bakugo snarled, leaning across the table and glaring at Sero. His eyes flicked to Y/N, his scowl deepening as if he were trying to hide something. "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THEIR LITTLE TOYS. I'M GONNA WIPE THE FLOOR WITH THEM WITHOUT ANY EXTRA HELP."

Y/N tilted her head, noticing how Bakugo's anger was simmering just beneath the surface. He wasn't angry just because of the gadgets; he was angry because it threatened his pride. And his pride—well, that was something he wasn't willing to let go of for anyone.

"I mean, I get it," Kirishima said, his usual easy-going smile back on his face. "But, hey, as long as we're still number one, who cares what they're using?"

Bakugo crossed his arms over his chest, his frown still prominent. "I CARE. YOU DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT CRAP TO BE STRONG. YOU JUST NEED TO BE BETTER. SMARTER. FASTER." He glanced at Y/N again, his gaze softening for a brief moment before he quickly looked away. "AND I AM."

Mina smirked, catching that small shift in his tone. "Look at you, Bakugo. Getting all sentimental."

Bakugo shot her an icy glare, but his voice came out quieter this time, almost begrudgingly soft. "Shut up, Mina. I'm not sentimental. Just saying it like it is."

Y/N couldn't help but smile at his contradiction. He was angry, intense, and completely unwilling to show vulnerability—except, maybe, when it came to her. That's when he'd let his guard down, if only for a second.

The group continued to chatter, but Y/N's mind was focused on Bakugo. He was always so damn stubborn, but there was something almost endearing about it. She knew he cared about them more than he let on, but admitting that? Never gonna happen.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, everyone began to get up and gather their things. Y/N looked at Bakugo one more time, noticing the way he stood a little straighter, like he was trying to shake off whatever was bothering him.

"Training soon," Y/N said, her voice calm but playful. "Are you gonna be ready for it, Bakugo?"

He shot her a glance, his voice a bit rougher than usual. "I'M ALWAYS READY, DUMBASS. YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT BY NOW."

And with that, he turned and stormed off ahead, his usual fiery intensity back in full force. Y/N couldn't help but watch him, smiling to herself. Maybe he wasn't as tough as he pretended to be. But for now, she was content to let him keep his secrets. After all, some things were better left unspoken.

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Word count: 1030

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Bakugo's protective side is starting to peek through, even if he won't admit it yet. Let me know what you think or if you'd like more scenes with the squad! Stay tuned for the next chapter!