After the villain attack in the city, the staff at UA were on high alert, particularly concerned about Valerie's safety. Though she was impressive, her quirk—lightning that could surge to dangerous, uncontrollable levels—was still not fully under control. Aizawa had taken to training her personally alongside Todoroki, helping her balance her power with precision. But even that didn't seem like enough.

"We need to push her harder," Aizawa said during a staff meeting, his voice as steady as ever, but his eyes revealing the weight of the situation. "She has potential, but that potential could turn dangerous if not fully realized."

"Who do you have in mind?" Midnight asked, leaning forward, intrigued by his plan.

Aizawa sighed. "Bakugou. His drive to constantly outdo others will force Valerie to improve. He'll push her, challenge her. It's the best way to help her grow."

There was a ripple of surprise, and some hesitation from the others. They knew Bakugou's aggressive nature could be overwhelming, but Aizawa was certain. His gaze shifted towards Hizashi who seemed concerned on the pair up.

The next day, Aizawa announced their new training project. Valerie and Bakugou were paired up, tasked with not only improving their individual skills but also creating an ultimate move and a team move that combined both their quirks. They would have 6 weeks to complete this task before being assessed for their mid-term exam. They will challenge two heroes for this exam, should they fail they will have have their hero licenses revoked.

Valerie blinked in surprise when she heard Bakugou's name, but she didn't argue. She'd grown used to his fiery attitude and rude remarks, but deep down, she knew he wasn't bad. He was just... intense. And she could handle intense.

Bakugou, on the other hand, scoffed. "You're pairing me with her? She better keep up," he growled, but even he couldn't deny the slight thrill of the challenge.

For the next six weeks, Valerie and Bakugou trained daily in the gym, their sessions often lasting late into the night. Each day, they pushed each other harder. Each day, they grew a little closer.

Valerie found Bakugou's company surprisingly comforting. Beneath the anger and bravado, he was driven—focused in a way that inspired her to do better. There was something in his fire that made her want to match it with her lightning.

Bakugou, for his part, found himself growing more determined to help her. He watched as she slowly gained more control over her quirk, each surge of electricity sharper, more precise. Her power was awe-inspiring, but it was the quiet moments that got to him—the way she stayed calm under pressure, how she didn't snap at his taunts but responded with strength instead.

---

Valerie and Bakugou's first official training session felt like a collision of fire and electricity. Aizawa had tasked them with developing their ultimate moves, something that would challenge them both individually and as a team.

As they entered the gym, Bakugou cracked his knuckles, already wearing a scowl. "Let's get this over with," he grunted.

Valerie wasn't fazed by his attitude. She had grown used to his rough demeanor over the past weeks. "I think we should focus on harnessing the intensity of our quirks and combining them. But first, I need to work on becoming more precise with my lightning."

Bakugou shrugged. "Tch, whatever. Let's see what you've got."

Valerie inhaled deeply and raised her hands, electricity crackling around her fingers. She focused, sending controlled streams of lightning towards a set of metal targets Aizawa had placed in the gym. One by one, they exploded into sparks, but her accuracy was still shaky.

"Not good enough," Bakugou growled. "Your quirk's crazy strong, but you're all over the place. You need control."

His words stung, but she nodded. He wasn't wrong. As they continued training, Bakugou pushed her, taunting and challenging her until her movements grew sharper. She could feel herself improving, but she also sensed that Bakugou was holding back.

"You need to be faster," Bakugou said bluntly. "Your lightning might be powerful, but if you can't keep up, you're useless."

Valerie clenched her fists. "I'm working on it."

But Bakugou wasn't satisfied. He launched an explosion at her without warning, forcing her to dodge. "You won't get stronger unless you push yourself harder."

Valerie, feeling a surge of frustration, finally tapped into more of her quirk. Lightning surged through her entire body, and for a split second, she blinked out of existence, reappearing a few feet away.

Bakugou raised an eyebrow. "Now we're talking."

---

By their second week, the rivalry had shifted. Bakugou was no longer taunting her out of arrogance but with a genuine desire to make her better.

"You need to turn into lightning faster," Bakugou said, pacing in front of her. "When you fully transform, it's like you're pure energy. You need to learn to zap through the air instantly."

Valerie nodded. The idea of fully becoming lightning terrified and excited her. It was a concept she had always thought about but never fully attempted.

They practised for hours. Valerie zapped from one end of the gym to the other, flickering in and out of existence. But it was exhausting. Each time, her body would flicker back, drained.

Bakugou watched her closely. "Stop thinking about it. Your quirk's instinctual. Trust it."

She wanted to snap at him, but there was something in the way he said it that resonated with her. Bakugou's explosions weren't just raw power—they were instinct, and control. And that was what she needed.

Valerie took a deep breath, letting her quirk flow through her naturally. This time, when she flickered out of existence, she held the form longer, reappearing across the gym in a burst of light. Bakugou's eyes widened as she managed to hold her lightning form for a few seconds longer.

"Now you're getting it," he said, a small smirk creeping onto his face.

Valerie returned his smile before swaying, "Hey... Is the room spinning?" Before he could react Valerie collapsed, "Oi! Get up!"

Bakugou stomped towards her before noticing her body was smoking... "Eh? Pikachu fries his brain and you fry your body???"

Valerie stood with shaky legs, "Y-yeah, but then if I can get an electric charge from another source, my body returns and the drawbacks disappear... "

There was a moment of silence before Valerie grinned, "and I know exactly how to fix it!"

---

During the third week, Bakugou had been working on his own ultimate move while training Valerie. One afternoon, after a particularly intense session of zapping and dodging, he decided it was time to show her.

"I've been working on this for a while," Bakugou said, his tone serious. "It's a concentrated blast, a pinpoint explosion with maximum damage in a small area."

He took his position in the centre of the gym, motioning for Valerie to stand back. With a growl, Bakugou's palms sparked, and he launched a condensed explosion towards a single point. The blast was so intense that the shockwave rippled through the entire gym, but it didn't spread outward, focused solely on the target.

"That's incredible," Valerie said, clearly impressed. "How did you concentrate the blast like that?"

Bakugou wiped the sweat from his brow. "Focus. Every ounce of energy into one spot."

The lesson wasn't lost on Valerie. She had the raw power, but she needed focus. She was determined to try and she wanted him to be proud.

"Teach me!"

Bakugou growled, "What the fuck? You think I'm just going to tell how to do MY ultimate move, don't be pathetic you dumb extra!" before he could stop himself... his words left his mouth.

Valerie's face fell, here she thought they were getting somewhere and that she was actually seeing him as a friend.

"whatever Bakugou..."

Valerie grabbed her things and left the gym.

---

Valerie sat on a bench just outside of the dorms, the night sky dotted with stars. She was lost in thought when she heard footsteps behind her. She didn't need to turn to know who it was—the heavy footfalls and the familiar tense aura gave him away. Bakugou was standing there, arms crossed, his expression more serious than usual.

"Got a minute?" he grumbled, barely meeting her eyes.

Valerie raised an eyebrow. "You actually going to talk or call me pathetic again?"

He scoffed, rubbing the back of his neck. He stepped closer, stopping in front of her. "Look... about the way I acted today and when you first got here... I was an asshole."

Valerie raised her hand " Am not was" She stood to walk away but he stopped her.

The words were stiff, like they were being dragged out of him. Valerie blinked, taken aback by his hand on her wrist.

"I don't mean to come off like that," he continued, voice lower now. "You showed up, all-powerful and calm, and it pisses me off. I thought you were trying to show me up. And I... I don't like losing. Today was no excuse either, I- I'm trying to be better at this.." he gestured between them and then looked at the dorm.

Valerie gave him a soft smile. "You were pretty terrible."

Bakugou grunted, his gaze avoiding hers. "Yeah, well. I'm gonna be the number one hero, and I don't need anyone slowing me down. But that's no excuse. I was a jerk."

For a moment, there was silence between them. Bakugou shifted uncomfortably as if struggling with what he was about to say next his hand still wrapped at her wrist.

"I'm sorry, Valerie. For today and what I said about your parents too. I didn't know."

Valerie's heart softened at his awkward attempt to apologize. She stepped closer to him. "I appreciate that, Bakugou. It wasn't easy hearing it, but... I get it. You don't always think before you speak."

He growled softly, but there was no real heat behind it. "Tch, I guess I don't."

There was a quiet pause between them, a shift in the air that felt lighter. Valerie took a deep breath, realizing this was a moment to share a piece of her story. Maybe it would help Bakugou understand why that comment had cut so deep.

"I never told you why I came to Japan," she began softly. Bakugou's eyes flicked to hers, and this time, he held her gaze. "I lost my parents... in that explosion at their lab back in South Africa. But it wasn't just that."

She could see the curiosity flash in Bakugou's eyes, but he stayed silent, letting her speak.

"For as long as I can remember, I thought Todd—my mom's partner—was my dad. He was there for everything, supported me when I got my quirk, and pushed me to embrace it even though my mom was quirkless and his quirk basically focused on air density and volume. But just before the explosion, my mom told me that Todd wasn't actually my biological father."

Bakugou's brows furrowed, clearly confused. "What?"

Valerie nodded, her voice quieter now. "My real dad is somewhere in Japan. I was furious when I found out. My whole life, I thought I knew who I was, and then, in an instant, everything changed. But Todd... even though he wasn't my biological father, he was there for everything. He loved me in his own way. And I'll always be grateful for that."

She looked down, the memories of her life in South Africa weighing heavily on her. "I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to them. By the time I reached the lab, it was already too late. I couldn't save them."

Bakugou was silent for a long moment, his jaw set, the tension in his shoulders visible. But when he finally spoke, his voice was softer than usual.

"You're strong, Sparky," he muttered, almost as if the words were hard for him to admit. "Stronger than I gave you credit for."

Valerie smiled at his rare show of vulnerability. "Thanks, Bakugou. That means a lot."

For a moment, they just stood there, facing one another, the distance between them seeming smaller than ever before. Bakugou's fiery red eyes caught hers, and Valerie found herself unable to look away. There was something in the way he was staring at her, something intense and raw like he was seeing her for the first time.

Bakugou shifted slightly, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how. He clenched his fists at his sides, his body tense with emotions he couldn't quite put into words.

Valerie's heart pounded in her chest as she stared back at him. The world seemed to fade away for a moment, leaving just the two of them under the night sky. There was a connection there, something unspoken but powerful.

"Bakugou..." she whispered, unsure of what to say next.

His gaze flickered down to her lips for just a second before snapping back to her eyes. The tension between them was almost unbearable, and for the first time, Bakugou's usual fiery attitude seemed to waver.

Without thinking, Valerie reached out, her hand lightly brushing his arm. The touch was enough to break the spell, and Bakugou blinked, his eyes wide with realization. His cheeks flushed slightly, and he quickly turned away, scowling.

"Tch, I've got to get back to training," he muttered, clearly flustered.

Valerie chuckled softly. "Sure, Bakugou. Go train."

But as he walked away, she could see the way his fists were still clenched, as if holding back something more. And for the first time, she realized that maybe, just maybe, Bakugou felt the was something there too.

*******

I know.... it's so fluffy, so cute so not burning fast enough.

So, I have labeled this mature, but not sure if yall want smut or just steamy make out sessions?

let me know :D