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The sports festival had finally concluded, and class 1A’s spirits were high as the festival's awards ceremonies had wrapped up, save for one particular young man. The one who should have been the most excited was in fact the most pissed off at the entire event. Katsuki Bakugou had finally freed himself of the stupid chains he had been put into for the ceremony. As he angrily stomped his way back to the locker room area for the competitors, he stuffed the first place medal into his pocket. He felt cheated out of a real victory, even if he had lost to that Half-n-Half bastard, he would have far preferred that to winning against someone who wasn't even going all out. Just before he stepped into the lockers he launched a huge explosion into the sky from his hands, not near enough to anyone to actually affect anyone other than a small jump,
“DAMN YOU HALF-N-HALF BASTARD!”
Those around him jumped in fear of his anger, and a few teachers popped up ready to restrain him if it came to it. However, he simply trudged into the locker room, his anger having been expended for now.
Of the students and teachers that had witnessed Bakugou’s outburst, Uraraka Ochako was among them, and though she jumped at his outburst she was more intrigued than anything. She thought back to the fight they had, it was the first round so it was quite a time ago, and thanks to Recovery Girl she didn’t have any injuries, but even so she knew she wouldn’t forget that battle for a long time. Frankly, Ochako fully understood where Bakugou was coming from. She knew she would have felt the same if Bakugou had held back against her. She wouldn’t have such a violent outbreak, but she knew it wouldn’t have been good for her.
“Kacchan sure is mad. . .”
Uraraka was thrown from her thoughts as she heard Izuku’s voice and she turned away from the boy who had left. She gave a soft smile as she responded,
“Yeah. . . I can’t believe he had to be restrained. . .”
Izuku and Uraraka talked for a short while longer before they decided they should look for Iida, they felt awful for nearly forgetting about that but they promised to call the other if they found out where to go.
Despite Uraraka’s want to find Iida there was also something else she wanted to do, something a bit more embarrassing all things considered. She waved goodbye to Deku and made her way to her target. She wanted to thank Bakugou, she felt like she grew a lot from their one battle, and it was all thanks to him not holding back.
She had checked a few of the locker rooms and was a bit worried that maybe she had been too late and he had already gone home, but eventually, in one of the last ones she opened the door and spotted her spiky headed target. He was sitting in a chair with his arms crossed over his chest and his eyes shut, like he was napping. She spotted the first place medal placed haphazardly on the table. When she entered his eyes shot open and he stood up, glaring and ready to fight. She jumped back with her arms up,
“S-Sorry for waking you!”
He scoffed when he saw who it was and he slumped back into his chair, his glare had faded a bit as well,
“It’s just you, pink-cheeks. What do you want? Did that damn nerd send you?”
Her face flushed at the nickname again, but shook her head at his question, she stepped in the room more and shut the door behind her. She carefully walked to the other side of the table and rocked back on her heels, she was nervous to say the least.
“No, no. . . Deku doesn't even know I’m here, no one does, actually. . . I wanted to, uhm. . . talk about the festival. . .er. Our battle more specifically.”
He seemed a bit surprised by that actually, but his scowl reappeared, sprawled on his face. He rolled his neck and glanced to the first place medal and back to her,
“You better not be telling me off fer’ going all out.”
“N-No! Of course not!”
She frowned, she couldn't believe he’d even think that, but she shook her head at the idea.
“The opposite actually. I wanted to say. . . I understand why you're so upset about what Todoroki did to you. I mean. . . I would have felt the same if you held back against me.”
His scowl actually softened, he most definitely did not expect that from her. To think all the other classmates were making fun of him for going all out and here she was thanking him. He shrugged, turning his head away a bit,
“It’s nothing. I didn’t hold back against you for two reasons. You shouldn’t think too much about it.”
She perked up, and leaned in over the table, placing her hands on it as she lent an ear to hear what he had to say,
“Oh? Do tell Bakugou! I’d really be honored to know what you thought. . .”
He scoffed again, but he turned to eye her. His eyes seemed to scan her, perhaps making sure she was sincere. He hardly ever opened up, especially to people that were friends with Deku. He sighed, and shook his head with a shrug,
“It should be pretty damn obvious Round Face.”
Her face flushed again and Bakugou continued,
“First of all. If I held back against you. . . I woulda lost.”
Her eyes widened at that, but before she could respond Bakugou undercut the presumed compliment,
“Not physically of course. I could beat you with both hands tied behind my back. I would have lost in my aim to become a Hero. Holding back ain’t a part of a Hero’s MO. If I were to have held back, you can bet yourself I would have been beating myself up for going against my beliefs.”
Her face lowered, she really thought he was complimenting her there. Sure, she knew he was exaggerating but it still hurt,
“Ah. . . I thoug-”
“Shut up Round Face! You ain’t heard my second reason before getting all mopey.”
She didn’t think his other reason could really help, but she relented and nodded for him to continue. He rolled his eyes and gave her another once over before sighing and standing up,
“Second. I respect you as a fellow Hero in training. Holding back would hardly show that.”
Her eyes fluttered and he looked up at her, a slight blush powdering her cheeks, and her hands were brought up to her heart. She could feel her eyes begin to water. She could hardly believe such simple words could make her heart beat so fast,
“B-Bakugou I-”
He scowled again and stepped closer to her,
“You damn well better not make my respect wasted. I’m looking forward to kicking your ass in the pro-hero rankings. You better give me a challenge.”
He was close to her, but for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to just step backwards, away from him. She gulped and nodded, wiping her tears away,
“I. . . I will be a hero. I’ll be number one Bakugou. You just wait and see.”
He scoffed again and turned his head away slightly,
“Yeah. Sure you will. . . Close your eyes, Round Face.”
Her face flushed, again a bright crimson,
“W-What?!”
“Just do it!”
She gulped and nodded, closing her eyes tightly. Her heart was beating so fast, she heard it like a gong in her ears and she knew her hands were impossibly sweaty. Was he about to kiss her? Did she want that? Why did that thought excite her so much? Just as she felt an eternity passed, she felt something around her neck—it was a cloth like substance and she frowned wondering what it was. She felt a hand on her head patting her and she heard Bakugou walk away. She quickly opened her eyes and watched as the boy walked out, before she could say anything he spoke again,
“You’re more deserving of that damn thing than anyone else in this competition, other than me of course, but I don't want it. The Half-n-Half bastard ruined it. Catch ‘ya later Pink Cheeks. Don’t let me down.”
With that she watched as he left the room without even giving her a chance to respond to him. She looked down to what was on her neck and she picked up the shimmering first place medal. She felt tears well up in her eyes again and she slumped down in a chair in the locker room, looking at it with so much pride in her eyes. For some reason, his acknowledgement—his respect—meant more than anything she had ever received other than her father's pride. Her heart was still beating fast and her face was flushed, but she gripped the medal tighty and shut her eyes,
“I won’t let you down. . . Katsuki.”