Chapter 9 - Girl Talk

The next morning arrived with the usual buzz of energy that filled Class 1-A's room before Aizawa dragged himself in for homeroom. The sunlight streamed lazily through the tall windows, painting golden stripes across the floor and desks. Students were chatting, laughing, and finishing up breakfast snacks before the day officially started. Bakugo and Midoriya were already bickering near the back, their voices rising over the chatter like background noise everyone had gotten used to.

"Shut up, Deku, I didn't ask for your damn opinion!" Bakugo barked, slamming his hand on the edge of Midoriya's desk hard enough to make his notebook bounce.

Midoriya flinched slightly but didn't back down. "I-I was just saying your strategy could be more efficient if you didn't—"

"I said shut up!" Bakugo snapped again, though there was a spark of something almost playful in his glare—like even he knew it was the same argument they had every day.

Kirishima laughed, reaching over to grab Bakugo by the shoulder. "Man, tone it down a little, would ya? You're gonna scare the poor guy into dropping his pen again."

Bakugo swatted his hand away. "He should be scared! Keeps him sharp."

"Yeah, yeah, sure it does," Kirishima said, still grinning as he leaned back in his chair.

While the boys continued their usual chaos, Yuuki sat with Uraraka, Jirou, Mina, and Yaoyorozu near the middle rows of the classroom. She was nervously fidgeting with her pencil, her notebook open but forgotten. Her eyes darted toward Bakugo for a second before she looked back down, cheeks slightly pink.

"So..." Mina leaned in across the desk, a teasing smile spreading on her face. "You're studying with Bakugo tonight, huh?"

Yuuki nearly dropped her pencil. "W-what? H-how did you—"

"Girl, you told us yesterday, remember?" Uraraka said with a giggle, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You said he told you to come to his dorm to study on Friday. That's tonight!"

Yuuki's face turned bright red as she nodded hesitantly. "O-oh. Right... I-I forgot I said that." She stared down at her notebook, her handwriting starting to wobble as she tried to focus on anything else. "I'm just... really nervous. I've never studied with Bakugo before."

Jirou smirked and leaned back in her chair, tapping her earphone jack lightly against her desk. "Can't blame you. He's... uh, kind of intense."

"Intense?" Mina repeated, laughing. "He's like a walking explosion with legs! I'm pretty sure if I ever studied with him, he'd yell at my notes for being too 'weak.'"

That made Uraraka burst into giggles, and even Yaoyorozu had to hide a small smile behind her hand. "Well," Yaoyorozu said gently, "Bakugo does take his studies seriously, even if he's... passionate about it. Maybe he just wants to help you improve."

Yuuki blinked in surprise, her cheeks still pink. "Y-you think so?" she asked softly. "He just seemed so... commanding about it. He said, um, 'That's an order,' and I didn't really have a choice."

Mina gasped dramatically, clapping her hands. "Oh my gosh, he ordered you to study with him? That's like his weird version of a compliment!"

Uraraka nodded eagerly. "Yeah! That's totally Bakugo's way of saying he wants to help—or that he likes having you around."

Yuuki's eyes widened. "L-likes having me around?" she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. "N-no, that can't be it! He's always yelling at everyone!"

"But he didn't yell at you last night when you got scared during the movie," Jirou pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "I saw him. He didn't blow up or anything—he actually, you know... calmed you down."

Mina leaned her chin on her hand, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ohhh, he definitely did something. You were sitting right next to him, weren't you?"

Yuuki's face turned even redder. "W-we were just watching the movie! That's all!" she stammered, her words tripping over themselves as the other girls exchanged knowing glances. "I-I mean, he... he put his arm around me when I got scared but—"

"Wait, wait, wait—he did what?" Mina gasped, practically squealing. "He put his arm around you?! Bakugo Katsuki? That Bakugo?"

Uraraka and Jirou both leaned in, eyes wide with interest, while Yaoyorozu gave a small, curious smile. Yuuki waved her hands frantically, her voice turning into a flustered jumble of syllables. "I-it wasn't like that! He just—everyone was watching—and I got scared, and he—he said to stop whining and just—"

"Protected you," Mina finished for her, grinning wide. "Oh, that's so cute! You guys are like opposites—the sweet nervous girl and the loud grumpy guy!"

Yuuki covered her face with her hands, her voice muffled and full of panic. "P-please don't say that! He's not like that with me! I'm just someone he tolerates!"

"Yeah, tolerates enough to tell you to come study with him," Jirou said dryly. "Face it, Yuuki. The guy's got a soft spot for you."

Before Yuuki could respond, the door to the classroom slid open with a faint clack. Everyone immediately straightened as Aizawa entered, wrapped in his usual scarf and looking like he hadn't slept in a week. His tired gaze swept the room as he spoke in his monotone drawl.

"Alright, everyone, take your seats. I expect you all to stay awake this time."

The class scrambled to obey, the girls quickly whispering "we'll talk later" to Yuuki before pretending to study. Yuuki sat frozen in her chair, her heart fluttering nervously in her chest as she stared at the clock.

Tonight. She was actually going to study with Bakugo tonight.

•••

Aizawa's lecture carried on in his usual monotone, filling the classroom with a kind of sleepy calm that made it hard to focus. The lights were dim, the air slightly warm, and the gentle scratching of pencils was the only other sound. Yuuki sat quietly at her desk, her soft pastel pen moving across the paper as she tried to concentrate—but her thoughts were far, far away from the lesson.

Tonight. She couldn't stop thinking about it.

Studying with Bakugo. Alone. In his dorm.

Her hands fidgeted nervously as she wrote, her handwriting growing shaky. She could already feel her anxiety bubbling in her chest like a small storm.

Then, suddenly, her phone buzzed softly against her thigh.

Yuuki's eyes widened, and she glanced up quickly to make sure Aizawa wasn't looking. He was still facing the board, writing something about hero strategy evaluation. Slowly, she tilted the screen toward her and peeked.

It was the "Girls Only 💖✨" group chat.

She hesitated before opening it, then sighed quietly and unlocked the screen.

Mina 💖: sooooOOoo are you ready for your study date tonight 😏💕

Uraraka 🌸: Minaaa! Don't call it that 😭 You're gonna make her more nervous!

Mina 💖: what?? it totally is though 😭😭 they're gonna be ALONEEE

Jirou 🎸: You're gonna kill her with anxiety before Bakugo even gets the chance.

Yaoyorozu 🌺: Still, I must admit, it is rather curious that Bakugo invited her personally. I've never seen him make that kind of effort.

Yuuki's cheeks flushed pink as she hid her phone under the desk, typing slowly with trembling fingers.

Yuuki 🧸: g-guys please don't call it that 😣 it's not a date he just s-said it's an order 😭

Mina 💖: an order to spend time with you? girl, that's a BAKUGO kind of flirting 😭😭😭

Uraraka 🌸: Ignore her, Yuuki! Just be yourself and wear something comfy and cute 🥰

Yaoyorozu 🌺: I agree. Perhaps something casual, but neat—something that gives you confidence.

Jirou 🎸: Yeah, totally. Cozy sweater, jeans, maybe those strawberry shoes you like. Simple but adorable.

Yuuki blushed harder, typing back.

Yuuki 🧸: b-but what if he thinks I look weird or too... soft 😭

Mina 💖: if he thinks that then he's BLIND because you're literally the cutest person alive 😭😭😭

Uraraka 🌸: She's right! You always look so sweet, Yuuki! 💖

Yaoyorozu 🌺: Perhaps you should bring some tea with you, too. It may help calm your nerves.

Jirou 🎸: Or put Bakugo to sleep. Win-win 😆

Yuuki covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to giggle too loudly—but a soft sound escaped her anyway. A few students glanced back, and her face went pale.

Aizawa turned from the board, eyes narrowing slightly. "Something funny, Yuuki?"

She jumped, shaking her head quickly. "N-no, sir! Sorry!"

He sighed, eyes half-lidded. "Then focus."

"Y-yes, sir," she whispered, cheeks red as she sank lower into her seat.

Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced down with wide eyes.

Uraraka 🌸: oh nooo did he catch you 😭😭😭

Mina 💖: HAHA he totally did 😂

Jirou 🎸: rip yuuki 💀

Yaoyorozu 🌺: Perhaps we should let her concentrate for now, girls.

Yuuki took a slow breath, gently setting her phone face down on her desk. Her heart was still racing.

She tried to listen to Aizawa again, but her mind kept drifting. She could feel Mina's teasing words echoing in her head, Uraraka's gentle encouragement, Yaoyorozu's calm advice, and Jirou's dry humor.

Her friends were excited for her—too excited. But Yuuki couldn't stop worrying.

She twirled her pencil, eyes distant, heart fluttering nervously.

Would Bakugo really help her study? Or just yell the entire time?

Would she mess up and embarrass herself?

Would she be able to look him in the eye at all?