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❟❛❟ CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN ❟❛❟
THAT NIGHT, THE CLASS 2A DORM BUZZED WITH LIFE, brighter and louder than usual. An impromptu barbecue had taken over their backyard—grills smoking, tents pitched, and music echoing under the summer night sky. Strings of fairy lights glittered from tree to tree, flickering like distant stars. The scent of grilled meat, woodsmoke, and melted marshmallows lingered in the air.
Behind the dorm, they'd transformed the open yard into a cozy campground. Two tents were set up on the far end—thanks in part to Iida, Ojiro, and Shinsou fumbling with the poles, until Bakugou inevitably snapped and took over with muttered curses.
At the center, a small bonfire crackled, built carefully by Todoroki, Kirishima, and Midoriya. It cast flickering shadows across their faces as they laughed and tossed sticks into the flames. Around it, mismatched blankets and pillows were spread out like a picnic.
Bakugou stood at the grill with Shoji, seizing full control of the cooking operation. Not that he trusted any of the others—hell no. If he left it to them, they'd burn the meat or poison someone.
Across from them, Momo and Akame worked near an ice box, ladling fruit punch into colorful plastic cups. The girls flitted around, hanging paper lanterns and solar lights. Sero darted between them, camera in hand, gleefully snapping photos while Kaminari and Jirou played upbeat music through a speaker, occasionally joined by Tokoyami on a haunting acoustic riff.
It was chaotic and warm. A little messy, but perfect.
"Kacchan!" Midoriya's voice cut through the chatter as he bounded over, balancing a plate stacked with meat. "You need to eat more!"
Bakugou scowled, his gaze fixed on the mountain of food. "Shut up, Deku! That's way too much!"
"Not enough," Midoriya countered cheerfully, his eyes wide and earnest. "You've been training like crazy. You've lost weight. It's kind of unhealthy."
"The hell are you, my nutritionist? Stop being a creep!"
"Kacchaaaann!"
With a sharp tsk, Bakugou pivoted and stalked away—not quite running away, just putting distance between himself and Midoriya's food ambush. He wove through the animated groups, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. Todoroki sat quietly with Tokoyami and Iida, his expression as unreadable as ever, plate still piled high courtesy of Iida. A few steps away, the girls formed a loose semicircle. Akame sat among them, the firelight catching in her dark eyes as she spoke. The others leaned in closer, watching her more than listening.
There was something subtly off about this night.
"Kacchan!"
Midoriya appeared again, this time holding two cups of fruit punch. He dropped onto the ground beside Bakugou with a soft thud, humming off-key to whatever pop anthem Jirou was currently blasting.
