Unveiled Winds || Katsuki Bakugou x Reader

Chapter 41 - Quiet Confession

The shopping bag crinkled loudly as Bakugou shoved it against Kirishima's chest the second they stepped out of the store.

"This was the dumbest shit you've ever dragged me into," Bakugou grunted, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Kirishima caught the bag easily, laughing. "Aw, c'mon, man! I needed a second opinion!"

Bakugou shot him a glare. "You needed my opinion? On stuffed animals?"

"It's not just a stuffed animal," Kirishima defended, cradling the bag a little protectively. "It's for Mina. I'm—" he scratched the back of his neck, a little sheepish, "—thinking about asking her out, y'know? Making it official."

Bakugou snorted. "So you think buying her some pink glittery crap's gonna seal the deal?"

Kirishima grinned, unbothered by the jab. "Hey, you know she'll love it. And you and her are close too! I figured you'd tell me if it was a bad idea."

Bakugou rolled his eyes but didn't argue which from him, might as well have been a stamp of approval.

They wandered down the street, the early night air buzzing with the hum of the city. Neon lights flickered to life above shop windows, and the smell of food carts started to creep into the air.

Kirishima bumped Bakugou's shoulder lightly. "Alright, alright, since you survived the shopping trip without dying, how about ramen? My treat."

Bakugou grunted. "Tch. Took you long enough to offer."

They veered off toward a tucked-away ramen shop they both knew, one of those small, old places that smelled like soy broth and had a cracked plastic sign out front.

By the time they squeezed into a booth, Kirishima had that thoughtful look again, the one that told Bakugou he wasn't just here for stuffed animal advice.

Kirishima slurped up a mouthful of noodles, setting his chopsticks down with a satisfied sigh. "Man, I missed this," he said, grinning across the table. "Seriously, we gotta do this more often. Y'know, before you get yourself killed chasing after Eclipse."

Bakugou shot him a look, but it didn't have much heat behind it. "Tch. No one's dying, dumbass."

Kirishima's smile faded a little, the concern he'd been holding back surfacing. "But seriously," he said, voice lower now, more grounded. "This mission... it's not some regular villain bust. It's dangerous. I know you know that, but... just sayin'."

Bakugou leaned back, arms crossed, staring out the window like the answer was somewhere out there. "Yeah. I know."

Kirishima hesitated, fiddling with his chopsticks. "And Y/N... she's holdin' up okay?"

Bakugou's eyes flicked back to him, sharp for a second before softening just slightly. "She's tough"

Kirishima nodded. "Yeah, no doubt. But even the toughest people break sometimes, bro. After what happened with Eclipse..." His voice trailed off meaningfully.

Bakugou didn't say anything for a moment, just kept drumming his fingers on the table.

Kirishima watched him carefully, then cracked a small, teasing grin. "Y'know... you sound real invested in her well-being, man."

Bakugou scowled immediately. "Shut up."

But Kirishima only leaned in, elbow on the table, smirking. "C'mon, dude. Don't play dumb. The way you look at her? Like you're ready to blow up the whole damn world if someone so much as breathes wrong in her direction."

Bakugou gritted his teeth. "It ain't like that."

"Uh-huh." Kirishima looked unconvinced. "You mean to tell me you let her join your agency after Deku practically had to drag you into saying yes, then trusted her with your biggest mission, let her borrow your gear, and look at her like she personally hung the damn moon... and it's not like that?"