The next few days pass fairly easily, all things considered. Bakugou still has to walk into buildings and hallways with the expectation that people will stare and whisper, but the amount of attention had decreased drastically after Kirishima's announcement to just about the entire school gained traction in the rumor mill, as people gossip and giggle about him, though quite a few girls look forlorn that they won't be having a chance.

Bakugou plops down onto the couch in the common area, resting an elbow on the back of the couch. Things seem pretty alright for him right now. It's like it's all being solved out at last, even though he has to deal with the pity that people practically chuck at him like stones.

Releasing a large sigh, Bakugou allows his muscles to relax into the couch, leaning his head back on its cushions with his eyes closed.

He needs a break.

He opens his eyes a few minutes later only for his vision to be completely blocked by shadowed shark teeth and red eyes that eerily peer down at him from inches away. Letting out an aborted yell, Bakugou lurches up, knocking his forehead onto Kirishima's before he tumbles sideways onto the seat of the couch as he clutches his forehead, teeth gritted.

Yeah, the "break" said "fuck you."

After a groan, Kirishima pulls himself up from his hunched over position behind the couch. He leans forward again, hands still over his forehead, and asks worriedly, "Sorry, bro, are you alright?"

"The fuck do you think, Hair for Brains?" Bakugou snarls as he pulls himself into a sitting position, glaring at the redhead while he rubs his forehead. "What the fuck were you even doing?"

Kirishima blushes and his eyes nervously flick around the room. "Uh, I was just seeing if you were awake." Bakugou scowls at him and Kirishima smiles back. "Yeah, I know what you're gonna say," Kirishima quips before bunching his face into a scowl and saying in a poorly rendered growl, "'That was a fucking dumb way to see if someone's awake, Shitty Hair,' or something like that."

Bakugou blinks at him, unimpressed, and Kirishima chuckles lightly as he walks around the couch and sits in a cushy arm-chair to its right as he finally pulls his hands away from his head and folds them together in his lap. His expression suddenly blooms into a fantastic depiction of nerves, and he stares down at his fingers as they fidget around each other. "Uh..." he attempts, his voice fading away and becoming softer until he is silent again. Bakugou folds his arms over his chest and slouches back into the couch, raising an eyebrow. Kirishima's eyes flicker up to him before fleeing to his fingers yet again. Softly, the redhead speaks up. "I was just wondering if...if what I did the other day...uh...helped...?"

Bakugou's sharp gaze trails over the boy appraisingly. The uncomfortable way Kirishima is holding himself as he avoids eye contact bothers Bakugou more than he'd like to admit. "Are you going to fucking ask me for real or do this bullshit awkward crap?" He asks in a low tone that is just shy of sounding harsh.

Wide eyes snapping up to Bakugou, Kirishima stares for a moment, making Bakugou slowly feel more and more uncomfortable, before he bursts out in laughter, arms hugging his stomach tightly. Bakugou feels his discomfort grow as he continues to sit there in wait, brows furrowing, until Kirishima pulls himself up with a sigh and wipes a tear from one of his eyes. "Wow," he says with a relieved yet out of breath tone. "Yeah, I should've known better; you're right."

"Damn straight."

Kirishima smiles at Bakugou, and Bakugou feels something in his chest lighten a bit. Kirishima composes himself for a moment, and speaks more firmly, a small smile still on his face, but his eyes now look strong and serious as he mirrors Bakugou's intense gaze, "I know we haven't had a real conversation in a few days, but I wanted to make sure that you aren't getting bothered as much. Has everyone been less annoying to you since that day in the cafeteria a few days ago?"

Letting out a huff, Bakugou rolls his eyes. "Yeah, your stupid game at attention drew a lot of the gossip-hogs away from the pity parties they wanted to throw for me." He looks at Kirishima with a serious set to his jaw. "That was a bad idea on your part, though, you shitty fuck."

Kirishima smiles brightly. "It went well, though! I'm glad," he says happily.

Bakugou rolls his eyes again, more dramatically this time, and Kirishima averts his gaze back to his hands, happily sitting in the comfortable silence that follows.

A few minutes later, the silence is interrupted again by Bakugou, who stubbornly looks at a cushion at the opposite end of the couch he sits on, away from Kirishima. His voice plays at nonchalance as he evenly queries, "Nobody has given you crap for the shit you said. Right?"

Kirishima looks at Bakugou, surprised at the blatant display of concern. He feels a small blush appear on his cheeks as his smiles grows until it's blinding while he replies cheerfully, gesticulating a bit alongside his words, "Yeah. It's been better than ever, especially having everything off my chest."

Bakugou nods jerkily, feeling more weight be released from his chest.

"So," Kirishima continues, dragging on the 'o' sound. Bakugou pulls his gaze back to him. "I just want to make sure.... Are we...uh...still friends?"

Bakugou scowls and his lip twitches upward. "I don't fucking know," he says after a moment.

"Can I take that as a yes?"

"DON'T MAKE DECISIONS ON YOUR OWN, SHITTY HAIR!"

Kirishima laughs and Bakugou growls under his breath. "So, we're not friends?" Kirishima asks with a mischievous grin.

"I didn't fucking say that," Bakugou grumbles.

"So...yes to friends?" Kirishima tries.

Bakugou's face twists up before he gives a hesitant small jerky nod, not regretting it when he sees Kirishima's face light up more brightly than a beacon.

After another moment of quiet, the spiky haired boy cautiously asks, "...Can I give you a hug?"

Bakugou's eyes widen fractionally before he looks down stubbornly and gives another jerky nod. Kirishima refrains from loudly exclaiming his glee, instead calmly standing up from his chair to plop down next to Bakugou on the couch, wrapping his arms around the other boy in a large and comfortable bear hug from the side even thought Bakugou keeps his arms stubbornly crossed over his chest.

"I'm still sorry."

Bakugou hears the whisper and the strange nervous fluttering in his stomach leaves him. "What?" he asks in his surprise.

"I won't stop being sorry for letting your secret out," Kirishima mutters, Bakugou's right shoulder, where Kirishima's face is hidden, growing slightly damp.

Bakugou glances at the head on his shoulder before looking away again with a thoughtful expression. "Dont fucking drag on things I've forgotten about," he decides to snap.

Kirishima's face presses harder into his shoulder. "I know you haven't forgotten, and it's my fault."

Huffing out a frustrated breath, Bakugou snarls, "Then how about this. Don't fucking drag on bullshit I've already forgiven you for."

Kirishima's head snaps up so quickly that Bakugou is surprised his neck didn't break. "Y-you forgave me?" Kirishima stutters in shock.

Growing self-conscious of his admission, Bakugou begins to pull himself from Kirishima's now lax arms. "No shit," he mutters. "Now fuck off before some extra comes in and thinks they can hug me," he says with disgust written on his face as he completely separates from Kirishima and stands up.

Kirishima's shocked expression melts into one of gratitude, his teary eyes still glassy. He presses his previously gaping lips together, chin scrunched upwards.

As the elevator door close behind Bakugou, the explosive boy hears the most genuine-sounding thanks that has ever reached his ears. It doesn't matter how short or quiet it is.

"Thank you."

Bakugou allows himself to smile as the elevator carries him upward.

———————————————————————

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Uh......
Sorry this took so long! I'm kinda in the busiest time of my life thus far lol but I also just wasn't feeling too "write-y," yk 😬 I'm glad I was able to feel motivated on a holiday tho so that's fun lol

I'm pretty sure only one person actually brought this up, but I'll mention once again that I do not abandon stories. No matter how long it takes for me to update this thing, it'll be updated until I write out the words "The End" at the end of the chapter and mark it complete :)

Also I think I just realized that the reason my chapter images glitch out is cuz I do everything mobile lol

-Angry
Word Count: 1358