Chapter 8 - Too Scared To Fall Asleep

Yuuki sat on the edge of her bed, the soft glow of her fairy lights casting a gentle pink hue across her dorm room. The pastel colors surrounding her—the cozy mountain of plush animals, the warm blankets piled high, and the faint scent of vanilla from her candle—should have made her feel sleepy, but instead, her eyes stayed wide open. She turned over again and again, her mind unable to quiet down. Every time she closed her eyes, she thought about the day—Aizawa's class, Bakugo yelling, the study session, and how she had nearly fallen asleep during the movie. Her heart still fluttered nervously when she thought about how Bakugo had sat beside her, his arm casually around her shoulders, even if it was just to stop her from squeaking every five seconds.

She sighed softly and rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. The clock on her nightstand blinked 12:01 AM. Her eyes widened slightly. "Midnight already?" she whispered to herself, her voice small and tired. She pulled the blanket closer to her chin and let out a quiet yawn. "Why can't I sleep?"

Her thoughts drifted to her friends. Maybe she wasn't the only one awake. Maybe everyone else was lying in their beds too, just like her, restless and thinking too much. She reached for her phone and unlocked it, the light briefly illuminating her face. For a moment, she hesitated—should she really text the group chat this late? But the silence in her room felt heavy, and she needed to know she wasn't alone. So she typed out a message.

Yuuki 🧸: "Is... anyone still awake?"

She hesitated before hitting send, her thumb hovering over the screen, but finally she did. She hugged her pillow and waited. The seconds stretched out, quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner. Then, her phone buzzed softly.

Kaminari ⚡️: "ME!! I'm so glad I'm not the only one who can't sleep 😭"

Yuuki let out a tiny giggle, covering her mouth. She wasn't surprised he was first.

A few seconds later, her phone lit up again.

Mina 💖: "Ugh SAME! I've been scrolling through memes for the past hour."

Uraraka 🌸: "I thought I was the only one awake too! Can't sleep either."

Midoriya 💚: "Oh, uh, I'm awake. Just writing some notes from class still."

Todoroki 🧊🔥: "It's midnight. You should all be asleep."

Mina 💖: "Todoroki, you just said YOU were awake too 😆"

Todoroki 🧊🔥: "...Fair point."

Yuuki giggled softly again, her heart warming as she watched the messages pile in. Soon, even Momo chimed in, saying she was reading a book to relax. The chat quickly turned into a soft, sleepy thread of random topics—comfort foods, favorite movies, silly memories from U.A. life.

Mina 💖: "Okay let's all say something happy so we can dream nice things 😍 I'll go first! Cotton candy clouds!"

Uraraka 🌸: "Floating through space but on a pillow."

Kaminari ⚡️: "Being rich enough to buy unlimited snacks!!"

Midoriya 💚: "Training with All Might and not messing up for once."

Todoroki 🧊🔥: "A quiet day with no Bakugo yelling."

Yuuki giggled at that one, covering her mouth again as her cheeks warmed. She thought for a moment, then typed softly, her thumbs hovering as if she was too shy to send it.

Yuuki 🧸: "Mmm... my happy thought is... everyone being safe and smiling together."

There was a pause in the chat. Then Mina sent a line of heart emojis.

Mina 💖: "AWWW YOU'RE TOO CUTE 😭😭😭"

Kaminari ⚡️: "Yuuki wins. That's it. Game over. TOO WHOLESOME."

Yuuki's cheeks flushed bright pink. "O-oh no..." she whispered, hiding her face behind her pillow even though no one could see her.

Then, her phone buzzed again.

Bakugo 💥: "You're all acting like damn babies. Go to sleep before I blast the dorms myself."

Everyone immediately started typing at once.

Mina 💖: "Aww someone's cranky 😏"

Kaminari ⚡️: "Bakugo can't sleep either 😭 look who's joining the baby club!"

Uraraka 🌸: "Don't be mean, Bakugo 😆 we're just trying to relax!"

Midoriya 💚: "Kacchan, maybe you should—"

Bakugo 💥: "SHUT UP, DEKU."

Yuuki stared at the message thread, her shoulders shaking with a quiet laugh. Even when he was grumpy, Bakugo always found a way to make her smile. She typed one last message, hesitating just a bit before hitting send.

Yuuki 🧸: "Goodnight everyone... and um... goodnight Bakugo."

There was a brief pause. Everyone sent their goodnights—Mina with a million hearts, Kaminari with lightning emojis, Uraraka with stars. And just before Yuuki set her phone down, one last notification appeared.

Bakugo 💥: "Night, crybaby."

Outside her window, the moonlight shimmered faintly over the school grounds. One by one, the lights in the dorms went out.

•••

Yuuki woke with a sharp gasp, her heart hammering in her chest as her wide hazel eyes darted around the dark room. For a second, she couldn't remember where she was—the shadows stretching across her walls looked strange and warped in the faint moonlight filtering through her curtains. Her breathing came out uneven, soft and shaky, and she instinctively reached for the stuffed bear sitting beside her on the bed. She hugged it tightly against her chest, pressing her cheek into its worn fur as if it could protect her from the remnants of the dream still clinging to her mind.

The horror movie. Of course. She knew this would happen. She should have gone with Uraraka to watch something else, but no—she'd been too polite, too shy to speak up. And now the movie's ghostly figure and sharp, echoing whispers were replaying over and over in her head. She squeezed her eyes shut and whispered to herself, "It's not real, it's not real..." but the unease still lingered, heavy and cold.

After a few long minutes of trying—and failing—to calm her racing heart, she gave up on the idea of falling back asleep. Her blanket felt too warm, her room too quiet. Even the soft hum of her fairy lights couldn't make her feel safe. She swung her legs over the side of her bed, her oversized pastel pink sweater drooping over one shoulder as she slipped her feet into her fuzzy slippers. Her teddy bear stayed clutched tightly in her arms.

The dorm hallway was dim, lit only by a few wall lights glowing faintly gold. Her slippers made the softest little shff shff sounds against the floor as she walked, trying not to wake anyone. The night air felt cool against her skin, and she shivered a little, rubbing her arm as she made her way toward the common room.

When she turned the corner, she froze in surprise. The soft flicker of the TV—muted, just showing some late-night news channel—cast a faint light over the couch. And there, sitting with his hair sticking out every which way and wearing a baggy hoodie, was Kaminari. He looked half-asleep, head leaning on his hand as he stared blankly at the screen.

"K-Kaminari?" Yuuki whispered softly, her voice hesitant and fragile in the quiet. "What are you doing up?"

Kaminari blinked, startled by the sound of her voice before looking over. When he saw her standing there in her oversized sweater and holding her teddy bear, his tired expression melted into a sheepish smile. "Oh—hey, Yuuki. Couldn't sleep. Guess that stupid horror movie messed me up more than I thought." He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I actually had a nightmare too."

Yuuki's eyes softened instantly, and she walked over quietly, sitting beside him on the couch. Her bear was still tucked under her arm, her legs folded neatly beneath her. "I had one too..." she admitted in a small voice. "It was about the movie. I—I kept hearing the sound of footsteps behind me. Every time I turned around, there was nothing there."

Kaminari shivered exaggeratedly, making her giggle softly. "Okay, yeah, don't say that. I'm already scared enough as it is," he said, pulling his blanket up around his shoulders. "Man, why did we even agree to watch that thing? Mina's got the worst taste in movie-night choices."

Yuuki covered her mouth, laughing quietly so as not to wake anyone. "She said it would be fun..." she whispered, smiling despite herself. "But I don't think I can ever watch horror movies again."

Kaminari chuckled. "You and me both. I'm sticking to comedy from now on. Or maybe those animal documentaries—can't go wrong with penguins."

That made Yuuki giggle again, the sound soft and light like a breeze. "Penguins are cute," she said, nodding. "They make me happy."

The two of them sat there for a while, whispering and giggling under the dim glow of the TV. The quiet of the dorm felt peaceful now, a little less heavy. Yuuki's nerves were beginning to settle, her shoulders relaxing for the first time since she'd woken up.

But then, suddenly—she felt it. That presence. That familiar, intense energy that made her stomach tighten immediately. She froze mid-laugh, her words catching in her throat. Kaminari noticed her expression and frowned slightly, glancing toward the hallway. "What's wrong?"

Yuuki didn't answer. Slowly, nervously, she turned her head—and her eyes went wide. Standing there in the doorway of the common room, arms crossed, hair messy, and wearing black sweats and a tank top, was Bakugo. His sharp crimson eyes looked more annoyed than anything, but the faint exhaustion on his face betrayed that he wasn't fully awake either.

Yuuki's whole body tensed, her voice barely a squeak. "B-Bakugo!" she stammered, clutching her teddy bear tightly to her chest. "Y-you scared me!"

Bakugo arched a brow, his voice low and gravelly from just waking up. "Scared you? You two idiots are the ones whispering in the middle of the damn night. Thought I was hearing ghosts or some crap."

Kaminari threw up his hands immediately. "Hey, hey, chill, man! We were just—uh—couldn't sleep, that's all!"

Bakugo grumbled something under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "Tch. Figures." His eyes flicked toward Yuuki, who was still holding her bear protectively. "What about you, crybaby? You scared of the dark or something?"

Yuuki's face turned pink instantly. "N-no! I just... couldn't sleep," she whispered softly, her voice trembling just a little. "I—I had a nightmare..."

For a brief second—just a split second—Bakugo's expression softened. His gaze lingered on her longer than usual before he looked away, scratching his neck awkwardly. "Hmph. Figures that dumb movie would mess with your head."

Kaminari chuckled quietly. "Told you we shouldn't have watched it," he said, earning a sharp glare from Bakugo that made him shrink back.

Bakugo let out a long, tired sigh and rubbed the back of his neck as he walked further into the common room. The faint glow of the TV flickered across his face, catching the faint irritation in his half-lidded crimson eyes. "You two morons should get back to bed," he muttered gruffly, his voice low but firm, the kind that didn't really invite an argument. He looked at Kaminari first, who was slouched on the couch with his blanket like a kid caught sneaking snacks after curfew.

Kaminari held up his hands defensively, laughing nervously. "Heh, yeah, about that... we, uh, can't fall asleep yet. Nightmares, man. It's a real thing."

Bakugo narrowed his eyes. "Nightmares," he repeated flatly. "You're seriously telling me the both of you are sitting here, whining like brats, because of a movie?"

Kaminari gulped, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "W-well, when you say it like that—"

But before he could finish, Bakugo's hand sparked with small, crackling bursts of orange light. The air immediately filled with the faint scent of smoke and ozone. Kaminari froze, eyes wide, as Bakugo's glare sharpened. "Go. To. Bed," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

That was all it took. Kaminari let out a nervous laugh that sounded more like a squeak. "Right! Bed! Totally going! See you guys in the morning!" He jumped off the couch so fast he tripped over the edge of the blanket, caught himself, and then bolted out of the common room in a blur of flailing arms and panic. "Fine, fine, I'm going!"

Yuuki blinked in shock, watching Kaminari disappear around the corner. Her heart was pounding now, and she instinctively hugged her teddy bear tighter to her chest. Bakugo turned his attention toward her, his usual scowl softening just a fraction when he saw how tense she looked. "You too," he said, though his tone was noticeably less sharp than before.

Yuuki squeaked softly, standing up so fast her slippers nearly slipped off. "O-okay! I'm going!" she stammered. Her voice trembled, her words tripping over each other as she started backing up toward the hallway.

Bakugo raised a brow, watching her fumble. "You don't have to sprint, idiot. I'm not gonna—"

Before he could finish, Yuuki spun on her heel and tried to dart past him anyway, her heart racing in a mix of nerves and embarrassment. But Bakugo's reflexes were quicker. He reached out instinctively and caught her by the back of her sweater collar, halting her escape mid-step.

Yuuki froze, letting out a tiny yelp as her feet slid slightly on the floor. "P-please don't use your quirk! I'm leaving, I promise!" she squeaked, clutching her bear tighter as she tried to wiggle free. Her legs kept moving like she was still running in place, even though she wasn't going anywhere.

Bakugo stared down at her in disbelief for a moment, then sighed heavily. "Will you relax?" he muttered, his tone exasperated but not angry. "I'm not gonna blast you, damn it."

Yuuki stopped struggling but still trembled a little, her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. She looked up at him nervously, her hazel eyes wide. "Y-you scared Kaminari..."

"Yeah, because he's an idiot," Bakugo said bluntly. "You're not him."

Still, she didn't move. She looked like a frightened kitten holding onto its favorite toy, and for some reason, that sight made something strange stir in his chest. With another low sigh, Bakugo gently guided her forward—not harshly, but firm enough that she'd stop pacing in circles. His hand briefly brushed her waist as he turned her around and set her down carefully on the couch again.

"There," he said, crossing his arms and standing over her. "Now stop trying to run like you're being chased or something."

Yuuki blinked up at him, her cheeks still red, her hands fidgeting nervously with her teddy bear's bowtie. "I-I wasn't running that fast..." she mumbled softly.

Bakugo huffed a quiet laugh, almost a scoff. "Yeah, sure you weren't." He tilted his head, studying her for a moment before asking, "You can't fall asleep, right?"

Yuuki hesitated but nodded slowly, her fingers twisting around the bear's little arm. "N-no... every time I close my eyes, I just... I keep seeing things from the movie," she admitted, her voice trembling a little. "I know it's silly..."

"It's not silly," Bakugo said before he could stop himself. His tone wasn't soft exactly, but it was gentler than usual. He sat down next to her, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the blank TV screen. "You just freaked yourself out, that's all. Happens."

Yuuki glanced at him in surprise, her lips parting slightly. It was rare—almost unheard of—for Bakugo to say something even remotely kind. She hugged her bear tighter, her voice coming out as a tiny whisper. "You... you're not mad?"

Bakugo smirked faintly, not looking at her. "If I was mad, you'd know it."

That earned a tiny giggle from Yuuki, and the sound made his smirk grow just a bit. Then, without thinking, he leaned back against the couch and said, "I can help you fall asleep if you're too scared to."

Yuuki's head shot up, her eyes wide with surprise. "H-huh?! You can?" she stammered, her voice high and flustered. "W-wait, how?"

Bakugo shrugged, pretending to be casual about it, though there was the faintest hint of red on his ears. "Dunno. Just... stay here 'til you're tired. I'll make sure you don't freak out again."

Her heart skipped a beat. She looked down at her teddy bear, then back up at him, her lips curling into the softest smile. "O-okay," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Thank you, Bakugo..."