Chapter 24 - Tomorrow, It Starts

As the last of the fire on the field fizzled out, the crowd of students erupted in cheers and applause. The battle had been fierce, every move calculated and bold. Todoroki stood in the center of the field, his chest rising and falling as frost and embers faded around him, steam curling gently from the ground. Iida stood beside him, slightly scuffed but still proud, his engines cooling down with a soft hiss.

From the stands, everyone watching broke into cheers. Mina jumped up and shouted, "They did it! They actually beat Endeavor!" Her voice was full of excitement, echoing through the viewing area. Uraraka clapped her hands together, beaming. "That was amazing! I can't believe how well they worked together!"

Even Bakugo, arms crossed and jaw tight, gave a low grunt of acknowledgment. "Tch. Not bad, I guess."

Yuuki smiled softly, her hands clasped in front of her as she watched Todoroki and Iida walk off the field. They both looked proud but humble, and that made her heart swell. She could tell how much that victory meant to Todoroki, especially fighting against his father.

All Might stood up beside them, his proud smile never fading. "Well done, young Todoroki and young Iida! That's the kind of teamwork and resolve that makes a hero." He glanced over at the class, his tone full of warmth. "You've all done well today. Every match has shown me just how far you've come."

Mr. Aizawa stepped forward from the shadows, his usual sleepy look on his face, though his voice carried a note of approval. "That concludes today's training matches. Everyone did fine, but you're not off the hook yet. Tomorrow, you'll be facing each other."

The class collectively gasped and murmured in excitement. Kaminari nearly fell out of his seat. "Wait, each other?! Like, we're actually fighting us?"

Aizawa sighed, tucking his hands into his pockets. "Yes. You'll be paired up and pitted against one another. This will test not only your quirks but also your ability to adapt to unpredictable opponents."

Mina clapped her hands together eagerly. "Ooooh, this is gonna be awesome! I call not fighting Bakugo!"

Bakugo shot her a glare. "You wouldn't last a second, Pinky."

She stuck her tongue out. "Exactly why I don't wanna fight you!"

Laughter rippled through the group, breaking the tension that had been building since the start of the exams. Yuuki let out a small laugh too, her nervousness easing now that the day was nearly over.

"All right," Aizawa continued, ignoring their chatter. "You've all worked hard today. Get changed into your normal clothes and get plenty of rest. You'll need it."

With that, he walked off, scarf fluttering behind him.

Everyone began to disperse from the training area, the air buzzing with excitement and relief. Yuuki and her friends walked together back toward the dorms, the golden sunset casting long shadows across the campus. The light made everything feel softer—the tension of battle giving way to the calm after a long, exhausting day.

As they entered the dorm building, the familiar warmth of the common area greeted them. Mina immediately flopped down onto the couch, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Finally! My feet are killing me. But oh my gosh, that was such an amazing day!"

Kaminari leaned against the arm of the couch, smirking. "Yeah, and tomorrow's gonna be even better. I can't wait to see who I'm up against. I'm totally gonna win."

Kirishima grinned and threw a playful punch at Kaminari's shoulder. "In your dreams, bro. You know I'm gonna crush whoever I face. Even you."

"Oh, yeah?" Kaminari shot back, sparks flickering around his fingers. "We'll see about that!"

Yuuki giggled softly at their banter, sitting beside Uraraka and pulling a small blanket over her lap. "You guys are really excited about this, huh?"

"Of course we are!" Mina said, sitting up. "We get to show off what we've learned and how strong we've gotten! Plus, it's not every day we get to fight each other."

Uraraka nodded. "It'll be fun! Just, uh... let's hope Aizawa doesn't pair me up with Bakugo again."

Bakugo, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, scowled. "You talk like that's a bad thing."

Mina laughed. "It is a bad thing when you blow up half the field just to prove a point!"

The group erupted in laughter again. Even Bakugo's glare softened slightly—though he'd never admit he was amused.

Midoriya looked at Yuuki, smiling brightly. "I think you'll do great tomorrow, Yuuki. You've already proven how strong you are. No matter who you're paired with, I know you'll give it everything you've got."

Yuuki blushed slightly, nodding. "Th-thank you, Midoriya. I'll try my best. I just hope I don't mess up."

The common room buzzed with noise as everyone laughed and talked about who they might end up fighting tomorrow. Bags of chips were passed around, Kaminari and Kirishima were still arguing over who would win in a fight, and Mina kept dramatically acting out mock battles using a pillow as a prop. It was warm and chaotic, just like any night in the dorms after a long day.

Yuuki sat quietly on the couch next to Uraraka, hugging a small pillow to her chest. She smiled softly as everyone's excitement filled the air. She was still a little tired from her fight earlier, but being surrounded by her classmates' energy made her feel comforted. Bakugo sat a few seats away, his arms crossed, pretending not to care—but his eyes would flick toward Yuuki every now and then when she wasn't looking.

Then, of course, the peace shattered the moment Mineta opened his mouth.

"I know who I wanna fight tomorrow," he said with that same mischievous grin that made everyone in the room instantly tense up. "Yuuki!"

Yuuki blinked, confused. "M-me?" she asked softly, tilting her head.

Mineta nodded rapidly, his face lighting up with that all-too-familiar pervy expression. "Yeah! I mean, if I lose, I could just, you know—cling to her and feel her body! Maybe she could carry me off the field, heh heh..." He wiggled his eyebrows in the grossest way possible, completely oblivious to the collective horror spreading through the room.

Mina's jaw dropped. "MINETA! You can't just say that!"

Uraraka smacked her forehead. "Seriously?! What is wrong with you?"

Midoriya flinched, his cheeks turning red in embarrassment for him. "Uh, M-Mineta, I don't think that's really appropriate..."

Before anyone could say another word, the sound of an explosion crackled through the room.

"WHAT. DID. YOU. JUST. SAY?!"

Every head turned as Bakugo stood up, his palms sparking angrily, eyes blazing like molten fire. Mineta froze instantly, sweat dripping down his face as Bakugo stormed toward him. "You think you can talk like that about one of your classmates?!" Bakugo's voice was loud, sharp, and filled with barely restrained fury. "You're lucky I don't blast you through the freakin' wall right now!"

Mineta squeaked, his legs shaking so badly he almost fell over. "W-wait, Bakugo! I was just kidding! I swear!"

"Kidding?!" Bakugo barked, his teeth bared. "You think that's funny? You're disgusting, you damn grape! If I ever hear you say something like that again, I'll—" He clenched his fist, a few sparks flying out. "—I'll make sure you regret it!"

The room went completely silent, everyone frozen in shock. Even Kaminari, who normally laughed things off, stayed quiet, eyes wide. Kirishima gave a small nervous chuckle, trying to diffuse the tension. "Uh, hey, Bakugo, maybe chill a little, yeah? You're about to blow up the common room again."

Bakugo growled lowly, but he didn't back down. "He's lucky that's all I'm doing."

Yuuki had been watching the whole thing in complete shock, her hands gripping her pillow tightly. Her heart pounded in her chest—Bakugo looked furious, his usual loudness now fueled by something protective, something almost personal. When she realized that, her cheeks turned pink.

She stood up slowly, her voice trembling but soft. "I-it's okay, Bakugo. I'm fine... really."

Bakugo turned to look at her, his expression still intense but his tone slightly softer. "You don't have to just take that crap, you hear me?"

Yuuki's eyes widened. "I... I know. Thank you, though."

The way she said it—genuinely, with that shy little smile—made Bakugo's chest tighten for a moment. He grunted and turned away quickly, trying to hide the faint blush creeping up his neck. "Tch. Whatever."

Uraraka sighed and crossed her arms. "Mineta, you seriously need to stop being such a creep. You're gonna get yourself blasted one of these days."

Mineta slumped down in his seat, trembling. "I-I was just joking..."

Mina threw a pillow at his face. "Not funny!"

The atmosphere in the room slowly began to relax again as the conversation shifted back to who they might actually fight tomorrow. But the tension between Bakugo and Yuuki lingered in the air, unspoken yet heavy.

Yuuki sat back down, her heart still racing. Uraraka leaned over and whispered, "Wow... Bakugo really lost it back there."

Yuuki nodded slowly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "Yeah... but he was... defending me."

Mina grinned slyly from across the table, clearly having overheard. "Ooooh, looks like someone's got a protective side."

Bakugo immediately snapped his head toward her. "Say one more word, Pinky, and you're next."

Mina laughed and held up her hands. "Okay, okay! Chill, dude!"

The room burst into laughter again, the tension finally breaking. But even as the others went back to joking and teasing, Yuuki couldn't help but glance over at Bakugo from where she sat.

•••

The moonlight spilled softly over the dorm grounds, casting everything in a silvery glow. The night air was cool, quiet—almost peaceful. Inside, all of Class 1-A had long gone to bed, their rooms filled with soft snores and the hum of late-night dreams. But Yuuki lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling, her heart racing for no reason she could quite explain.

She tossed and turned, hugging her teddy bear tightly, trying to force her eyes shut. But her mind wouldn't stop spinning—thinking about the day, the battle, her quirk, the way Bakugo had glared down Mineta like he was ready to incinerate him on the spot. Every time she thought of it, her chest grew warm. She groaned softly into her pillow. "Why am I even thinking about him right now..." she mumbled.

Finally, she gave up on sleep. Pulling her blanket aside, she slipped her feet into her slippers and quietly left her room. The dorm hallways were dark and silent, only the soft glow of moonlight through the windows guiding her path. She wrapped her arms around herself, walking toward the entrance. Maybe some fresh air will help...

When she stepped outside, the air was crisp and cool, brushing through her hair gently. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes. But when she opened them again—she froze.

Leaning casually against the outer wall, hands in his pockets and eyes half-closed like he'd been waiting for someone, was Bakugo. The faint light caught the edges of his sharp features, his messy hair blowing slightly in the breeze.

"B-Bakugo?" she whispered, startled.

At the sound of her voice, Bakugo's crimson eyes flicked open immediately. He straightened up slightly, tilting his head toward her. "Shouldn't you be asleep right now?" His tone wasn't exactly harsh, but it was sharp enough to make Yuuki flinch a little.

"I-I was just—" she began nervously, but he didn't let her finish.

"What are you even doing out here this late?" His voice rose slightly—not quite a yell, but firm enough to send a chill down her spine.

Yuuki fidgeted, her fingers twisting the hem of her long sleeve. "I... couldn't fall asleep..." she admitted softly, looking down at her feet.

Bakugo clicked his tongue and pushed himself off the wall, walking toward her with slow, deliberate steps. His shadow loomed over hers as he stopped right in front of her, the faint scent of smoke filling the air between them.

"You didn't answer my question," he said lowly, his eyes narrowing as he leaned in just a little. "What are you doing out here, walking around at night, when you should be in bed?"

Yuuki blinked up at him, startled by how close he was now—close enough that she could see the faint glint of moonlight reflecting in his eyes. Her cheeks instantly turned red. "I-I said I couldn't sleep..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Bakugo towered over her, his breath visible in the cold night air. He tilted his head slightly, studying her with a mix of irritation and something else—something quieter. His usual fire was still there, but softer, like embers instead of an explosion.

Yuuki looked away quickly. "U-um..."

He started walking past her, but as he reached the door, he paused. Without turning around, he said quietly, "If you still can't sleep... come to the common room. Don't wander around out here by yourself, got it?"

Yuuki blinked in surprise, her heart fluttering. "O-okay," she said softly.

Bakugo didn't say anything else—just grunted, pushed open the door, and disappeared inside.

Yuuki stood there for a long moment, her cheeks burning and her heart racing so fast she could barely breathe. Then, slowly, she smiled. "He's... so confusing," she whispered, hugging her arms to herself.