Emote: Bakugo x OC Reader

Chapter 29

The morning dragged along and I dreaded lunch time because I didn't know who I would sit with. The group that I had sat with a few days ago included Bakugo and I assumed based on the dynamics of the group that they usually sat together. My stomach had been in knots all morning since Bakugo had snapped at me and I wanted to keep my distance from him as much as possible. It didn't help that he sat directly behind me and I felt like his eyes were boring a hole into me from behind.

Yeah, right. I thought bitterly. He made it pretty clear that he doesn't want anything to do with me now... 

I watched the clock intently as it got closer and closer to lunch time and when it was within a few minutes of the bell ringing I discreetly put my classwork and utensils away as I edged myself to the rim of my seat. When the bell rang, I stood up quickly, grabbed my bag and headed towards the door while avoiding eye contact with my classmates.

This is how it should be. I don't know why I thought being in the hero course would be any different. I don't need friends. What I need to do is stop getting distracted. I need to keep my head down and work hard so that I can become a hero that people can look up to.

"Nakano!" A voice interrupted my thoughts and I turned around to see Mina following me down the hallway, waving her arm above her head to get my attention. When she caught up to me her smile widened. "Aren't you going to sit with us at lunch today? We missed you yesterday!"

Did she say we? My thoughts immediately drifted to Bakugo. I shook my head to rid the image of the boy and the grimace I made wasn't entirely fake as I said, "I'm actually not feeling well. I think I'm going to go to the nurse's office."

"Awwwww!" Mina whined and I was shocked when she threw her arms around me. "I'll miss you! Being around all that testosterone can be a real pain sometimes. But it's mostly fun to be surrounded by all those cuties, ya know?" 

She winked and I couldn't help but smile in return as she turned and began heading towards the cafeteria. My smile quickly faded as my eyes met Bakugo's when he came out of the classroom. Before he had a chance to sneer at me, as I was sure he would, I turned on my heel and continued walking.

I had lied to Mina of course and wasn't actually going to the nurse's office. Instead I went outside and found a patch of trees to sit under while I waited for the afternoon classes to begin. As I began working on some homework, my stomach grumbled in protest of my not eating lunch. I pouted, realizing that I had skipped eating breakfast today as well. Sighing, I rummaged around in my backpack to look for some snacks, but to no avail. Still, I wasn't ready to face my classmates in the lunchroom. I worried that Bakugo would say something to make me burst into tears in front of everyone and I couldn't deal with that right now.

The lunch hour went by fairly quickly as I focused on my school work and before I knew it, we were being sent to the locker rooms to prepare for our hero training course. I didn't have my hero outfit yet, so I changed into my gym uniform and headed to ground beta where we had been told to convene.

We had little time to chat among ourselves before All Might cruised onto the scene in his usual flashy fashion. "I am here!" He yelled, sliding in front of my class. It still amazed me how quickly the students reacted to him with such unbridled glee, especially given that they had been taught by him for a while now. I couldn't help but be mesmerized by him as well and I was only partly listening to what he was saying when I saw a flash of what looked like a trench coat.

"And that's where Ectoplasm comes in," All Might was saying. "Your mission will be to get to the checkpoint at the top of the building." He pointed dramatically at the top of the building we were standing in front of and everyone looked up to see a bright yellow flag flapping around in the wind. "You will be working in teams of four to get past Ectoplasm's clones. Your grade will be based on your ability to work as a team, communication skills, combat skills and the amount of time it takes you to capture the flag." 

I gulped as I looked at Ectoplasm, his white eyes slanted in a way that made him look intimidating. I noticed that what appeared to be two dark peg legs protruded from the bottom of his trench coat. My anxiety intensified as he turned his gaze towards me. 

Holy shit, he is super terrifying. And really strong from what I've heard about him. I hope that I get a good team. I thought and had the sudden urge to look for Bakugo, but I resisted, keeping my eyes firmly planted ahead towards All Might and Ectoplasm. 

"Our first team up will be Katsuki Bakugo -" All Might started but Bakugo quickly cut him off.

"Hell yeah," he said, stepping up and punching his fist into his open palm, causing a small explosion to erupt. "I don't even need a team, I'll take this trench coat bastard on myself!"

"Remember, young Bakugo," All Might said, his smile as dazzling as ever, "Part of this exercise is working together as a team. I'll trust you remember this as I'm grading you." His smile was bright but there was a glint in his eye that suggested how serious he was.

"Tch," Bakugo responded and crossed his arms as he turned away.

"Mezo Shoji," All Might continued and I wasn't sure who he was referencing until a tall, bulky, silver haired boy with a mask covering his face stepped forward and I recognized him as the classmate who sat right next to me. Six muscular arms which seemed to be webbed together sat at his sides.

"Shoto Todoroki, and -" I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath until he spoke his next words, "Y/n Nakano!"