Emote: Bakugo x OC Reader

Chapter 70

I had played it off cool, but if I was being honest with myself my chest really was burning, but I tried to ignore the painful sensation as we walked towards the buses. The pain was quickly replaced with a sense of nervousness as I realized that the only person who knew about Katsuki and I was Mina. How would he act in front of the others? Surely he wouldn't show his softer side. Would he show me any sort of affection at all?

"Nakano!" I recognized the voice as Kaminari's and quickly spotted him, waving excitedly as we approached. "We didn't get to see you all break! Why didn't you didn't come to the pool that one time? Even Mr. Antisocial here got dragged into it." He gestured to Katsuki and then seemed to realize that we had been walking together. "Ooooooo, did you two just come from inside the school? What were you guys doing?"

It seemed like an innocent enough question but the way that he was wiggling his eyebrows at us suggested differently.

"Fuck off, short circuit," Katsuki scoffed.

Ignoring Katsuki's remark, I said, "I had to have a meeting with Mr. Aizawa about the summer camp. Sorry about not making it to the pool, I heard that it was a lot of fun, but actually I got injured and spent most of the time -"

"Injured?! What happened?!" Kaminari's voice was loud enough to turn a few heads. The attention made me freeze as I felt my face get hot and I locked eyes with Iida, who stood a short distance away.

The last time I had seen him, his arms had been heavily bandaged and hung in slings. Looking at him now, I never would have known that he had fought Stain the hero killer just a week ago. A pang of anger swelled within me as I swallowed my jealousy at seeing his full recovery. I knew it wasn't his fault, it was that stupid old bastard's fault that I still had to deal with this gaping wound in my chest.

Then again, it's your own fault for being so weak. I thought. 'Completely useless.' Those words he had whispered into my ear, like a seed that had been planted, slowly began to grow. No! Fuck him, I don't need him!

"Kaminari!" Iida's voice boomed as he began power walking over to us. "I am volunteering you to help load luggage onto the bus and I need you to start now!"

"What? Why me?!" Kaminari whined, but he was no match against the class representative, who was already sweeping him away.

"I'm just glad it wasn't me," Sero chuckled as he approached us. "What's this about you getting injured, Nakano?"

"Hey guys!" Kirishima appeared suddenly, beaming. "Long time, no see!"

"Y/n!" Mina drew my name out in a loud exclamation as she charged over to our group. "It's so good to see you, it feels like it's been forever! I have so much to tell you!" She grabbed me by the hand and began dragging me away but quickly turned around to point a finger at the group of boys. "Ya'll had better be extra nice to my girl because she got hurt as an innocent bystander during a small villain attack near her house and she is still healing! And if anyone tries any funny business or tries to talk shit, you'll have me to deal with!"

"Mina..." I said quietly, completely in awe of this girl. She had done that so effortlessly, without even batting an eye. The way that she had spoken so confidently and protectively brought a sudden wave of emotion over me. I'd never had a close girl friend before. This must be what it feels like.

"We have to sit by each other on the bus, there's so much we need to talk about!" Mina said excitedly and I couldn't help but react to her infectious smile and energy. I realized then that she was pulling me over to stand with the group of girls.

"Hey, Nakano!" Uraraka smiled sweetly as we approached. "It's good to see you!"

"Mina, I can't say I agree with your threat just now," Yaoyorozu said, shaking her head in disapproval. "But that being said, we heard what happened, Nakano, and we'll support you in whatever ways we can. That must have been so scary to get caught up in a villain attack. How are you doing now?" Her dark eyes were full of concern as she looked at me.

"I'm doing better. Not fully healed, of course, but I'm getting there." I said.

"Did it happen the night they caught Stain? There were several villain attacks in our city that evening. I'm lucky that my part of the neighborhood didn't get hit." Jiro said, subconsciously twisting her finger around one of her earphone jacks.

"Yeah, same here. It seemed like most of the damage was in downtown though." Asui chimed in.

I was frozen again. The mention of Stain had catapulted me back to that night. His eyes. The knife hurtling towards me. Blood. Midoriya screaming.

Suddenly, I was brought back to the present as a heavy hand fell down onto my shoulder, jolting me back into reality. Mina, who had put her arm around my shoulder, pulled me in close. "Let's not overwhelm her, ladies! Instead of talking about the worst parts of our break, let's talk about some of the best instead!"

"Sorry, Nakano! We didn't mean to upset you." Jiro said, suddenly seeming embarrassed. 

"Oh, no!" I jumped in, waving my hands in front of me as if to dismiss the entire thing. "Don't worry about it, it's not a big deal."

"Instead of dwelling on the past, let's focus on making this the best summer camp yet!" Uraraka said cheerfully.

"I'm all for that!" Mina exclaimed.

"Everyone in class 1-A, start lining up in an orderly fashion! They are ready for us to get on the bus!" Iida was waving his arms frantically as though he was conducting airline traffic and I couldn't help but laugh as our class began to line up.

Mina was ahead of me and chose a spot in the middle of the bus. Before taking my aisle seat, I did a quick scan but didn't spot Katsuki. As I sat down, I saw him just entering the bus. When our eyes met, I felt my breath catch, but the feeling was abruptly cut short when Sato's broad shoulders suddenly blocked my view as he stepped into the seat right in front of me.

As Katsuki was passing me in the aisle, my heart rate seemed to sky rocket and when I peered up his crimson eyes were already looking at me. The intensity of my gaze made me look away as I felt my cheeks get red. Mina stifled a laugh by pressing a hand to her lips as he passed. 

"You guys are so obvious," She said, her voice muffled.

"What?! What are you talking about?" I asked anxiously. 

"That look just now! A lover's glance if I've ever seen one!" She spoke quietly, but it felt as though she had screamed the words.

"Oh my God, no! Stop!" I said, desperately wanting to change the subject. "Look, I don't even know if he's told the guys about us or what. I honestly don't even know what to expect, this is the first time we've been with the class since...everything happened."

"Aaahhhhh, no need to be embarrassed, babe!" She said, grinning and giving me a quick wink. "Take things at your own pace. It doesn't have to be made known to the public just yet if you're feeling so shy about it."

Was that what it was? I pondered, mulling her words over. No, I think it's more that I don't know how he feels about people knowing. He would probably just get annoyed. Oh God, what if he doesn't even think of us as being in a relationship? Do I need to formally ask him to be my boyfriend? That seems so fucking lame, but I've never done this before!

"Okay, I don't mean to be selfish, but I have been dying to talk to you about Shinso!" Mina said, breaking my train of thought.

"Oh yeah?" My voice came out strained but she didn't seem to notice.

"Oh my God, he is so amazing! So brooding and mysterious, kind of like you were when we first met. At first he was kind of hesitant to talk to me, but I told him that I just wanted to get to know him and y/n," Her voice, which had been dreamy and light, suddenly became serious as she took my hands in hers and her golden eyes bore into mine. "I think I'm falling in love with him."

I had the sinking feeling that this was going to be the longest bus ride of my life.